Things My Mother Taught Me
Author: Kris Hale
If you want children to keep their feet on the ground, put some responsibility on their shoulders.
-----Abigail Van Buren
My mother was forty-seven years old when she was diagnosed with muscular sclerosis (MS). That diagnosis changed our lives forever. I am the youngest of seven children, and as the "baby girl," my responsibilities were far and few between. As my mother faced her mortality, she began to reflect on her children's lives and wondered if we would be prepared for the world once she was gone.
With this diagnosis, my mother became driven to prepare me for the world and make sure that I had all the tools I would need to thrive. She wanted me to be independent. My family knew very little about her life expectancy, or how her body would respond to the disease. As the youngest, I had always spent the most time with my mom. I soon became her "helper." I went with her to the bank, doctors' appointments and grocery store. I helped her do the laundry and various other chores and errands. My life lessons had begun.
By the time I was ten years old, I was well known at the bank and could balance a checkbook without help. I was eventually able to monitor and manage my own savings account. Each month we paid the bills together, and when she could no longer write, I filled out all the checks, addressed the envelopes, purchased stamps and mailed off the rent along with all the other bills.
My mom was an amazing cook. Thanksgiving was always a huge feast at our house. With a large family, my mom always wanted to make sure that she had enough food for everyone to eat and enough leftovers to seemingly last us a lifetime.
Two days before Thanksgiving, my mom bought all the groceries that she would need to make dinner. The night before, she stuffed the turkey and put it in the oven to cook.
The next morning, I found her very upset and crying because she was not feeling well. She did not think she was going to be able to finish Thanksgiving dinner. For the best cook in town and the mother of seven children, this was more than she could bear. I told her I would cook; all she had to do was tell me what to do. I started cooking at seven in the morning and cooked all day. She sat at the kitchen table instructing me at every step. That was the first time that I cooked a full-course meal for my entire family.
My mother was the single greatest influence in my life. Through every challenge she faced, she led our family with grace and awe-inspiring strength. She made sure that we would be self-sufficient and capable. Ten years after her passing, I still miss her very much.
With the blessing of hindsight, I realize how scared my mother must have been, having a young daughter and not knowing how long she would have to teach her all she would need to know. Even though I had different responsibilities than many of my friends, I understood why. My mother did her very best to make sure that I would have the tools I needed to be a responsible, independent and capable adult. And for that, I am grateful.
Rebecca Lin 2010 Winter In USA |
Well-said.
Have a nice week,
Rebecca
对我教主日学也很有启发，谢谢分享。
一程歌,
谢谢你阅读Kris Hale撰写的文章，看到你的留言我就非常的高兴了，同怀念前几年在KD度过的美好时光。
Have a nice Sunday and good week ahead,
Rebecca
贝卡, 不好意思, 你看我还是大大咧咧的, 没仔细看标题.
好久好久没在论坛里碰到你了, 我也一两个月会冒个泡灌一会儿水而已, 工作太忙了.
再问好!!! 怀念前几年在KD的快乐时光^-^
谢谢杜姐留言，杜姐在三亚度假看到草帽时，还想到我，让我真高兴和感动。不过，我档案里的照片不是我，因为喜欢这个清新淡雅，喜欢读书的女子，所以就选用了。
祝你周末快乐，
Rebecca
祝周末快乐
我在三亚看到很多漂亮草帽，我就想到你，然后我买了一顶和你差不多一样的带镂空和飘带的帽子～～～
一程歌,
真是久违了,看到你的留言太高兴了，一切都好吗？
［Things My Mother Taught Me］这篇文章不是我写的，作者是Kris Hale，我觉得作者的母亲很明智，不但爱她的孩子，并且教会了她的孩子生活的技能，正如Abigail Van Buren所说: "If you want children to keep their feet on the ground, put some responsibility on their shoulders.＂这些对于我用来教育我的孩子们颇有启迪．
我小的时候，父母太宠爱我了，从来都不要我做饭炒菜，也不要做任何家务，只要我读书．我母亲的菜做得特别好，可惜我以前就从来没有跟她学做过任何菜．
记得每到春节，我母亲总是早早地准备年货，除夕夜的晚餐，特别的丰盛，美味佳肴摆满了桌子，我们全家就围坐着桌子旁，品味着母亲的菜肴，那份节日的欢乐，家的温馨和归属就流淌在佳肴里，荡漾在心中．
如今，有时突然想吃母亲做的菜，就在家中试着去做，可是总也做不出母亲当年的那种美味了，因为我从来都没有跟着母亲实践过．所有呀，我对我的孩子们说，你们喜欢的菜肴，一定要学会去做，很欣慰的是，我的孩子们很听话，按照我说的去做了．
好了，就聊到这．
祝你周末快乐，春天愉快，
Rebecca
You had a great Mom!!!