I stood at the bus stop, shoulders hunched and chin tucked into my chest. Tiny daggers of frigid spring air slipped through the open knit of my Forenza sweater, and my teased bangs threatened to collapse under the weight of the wind.
Dammit, I should have listened to her. I should have worn a coat; I am COLD.
I would never tell her that, though. That would mean she was right and I was wrong, and a teenager would never admit that her mother knew best.
I will readily admit that now, or at least I’ll admit it after my initial insistence that I am right. My mother often did know best, and she certainly knew more than I did.
Earlier this year, I read a lovely post by Marcia about the little pieces of her mother that are left with her, and how much she treasures them. It inspired me to take the time to remember the little things I love about my own mother. I want to cherish the pieces of the people I love while they are still here.
Today is my mother’s birthday. I bought a gift for her, from my sister and me, after she admired a watch while we were shopping together a few months ago. She even said, “This would be a great birthday gift for me.” I bought it, but when she unwrapped it on Sunday, she had an odd look on her face.
She had already bought it for herself.
She couldn’t pass it up; it was on sale. Fortunately for her, I paid full price, so she now has a nice Nordstrom gift card to spend as she pleases.
Here is one more gift for you, Mom. You can’t return this one.
I love these little things about you:
You always write “luv” instead of “love.”
You are always searching for the next perfect purse. I know I roll my eyes when you are shopping for one, but secretly I think it’s endearing. And I can relate.
You faithfully send cards for birthdays, anniversaries, and holidays. For years, you bought Amy and me cute underwear for Valentine’s Day. That looks creepy as I type it, but it really wasn’t.
You will listen to anything I ramble on about. I’m not a huge phone talker, but sometimes when we are chatting, I just keep going, and you don’t tune me out. You are the only person who will put up with hearing every minute detail about the planning of our Europe trip, and having you as a sounding board keeps me sane.
My friends like you, and you like them. You always tell me when you run into one of my friends around town. They tell me that you are bubbly and always have a smile and a friendly word.
Many of my habits and loves are inherited from you:
I always make my bed.
I love jewelry and chocolate.
I am excellent at ordering take out.
I am an avid reader.
I did NOT inherit:
Your height.
Your lovely and well-maintained fingernails.
Your love for cottage cheese. Blech.
Your housekeeping abilities. Actually, I have the ability, I just set the bar much lower than you ever did.
Happy birthday, Mom. I cherish all the pieces of you, and I always bring a coat just in case.
This is so sweet. Happy birthday to your mom!
Thanks Debbie!
Very sweet! Happy belated birthday to your mom!!!
Thanks Lisa!
AW!!! This is just so precious Dana!! I just love your mom too… It sure seems like you are one lucky daughter!!
I am, Chris!
This was very sweet and touching. So many people are very flip about their parents and it’s nice to read something with a different tone.
Thank you, Nina. Although I don’t think I’d write something flip about my parents, the fact that they are my most loyal readers confirms that!
what an incredibly sweet post!! I love how you listed the small things that make her so endearing! 🙂
Yeah, moms always set the bar of housekeeping so incredibly high!!
Well, I will not be one of those moms! I shudder to think of how my children’s homes will look when they are adults.
This is so beautiful!!!!! Happy bday to your amazing mama!!! What a wonderful tribute recognizing the traits you share, Love it! Eat cake!
We ate cake! Actually, cookies and Baskin Robbins ice cream, which is even better!
Happy birthday to your mom! What a beautiful tribute to her. I would list to your Europe planning by the way. I love living vicariously through others! : )
I’m sure my mom would gladly let you listen to me ramble on! Just wait until we get back in July – you’ll hear plenty 🙂
Beautiful, Dana! Happy happy birthday to your mom!
Thanks Kristi!
Dana, this is such a sweet love letter to your mom! I love how she loves your friends and the feeling is mutual 🙂
I love that too, Dana. It’s nice to see her from the point of view of other people, and it reminds me of how lucky I am to have her.
I love this post, Dana!! Happy birthday to your mom – she sounds incredible!!!
Thanks Kim – she is pretty incredible!
My mom bought me Valentine’s Day socks. To this day she continues to send out cards faithfully for birthdays and the High Holidays. I unfortunately did not inherit that from her, but she did teach me how to write a thoughtful thank you note, a dying art (in my opinion) and something I plan on passing onto to Eve.
Lovely tribute to your mom, Dana!
I agree with you about thank you notes – I’ve tried to pass that on to my kids too. And Valentine’s socks? Love it!
YES Dana – admire all the pieces while they are all still here. You are so lucky to have your mom and have such a great relationship with her. I would give anything for that!! Thank you for sharing her with us today.
My pleasure, Allie. I am very lucky.
My mom always bought us Valentine’s day underwear too, and I know it wasn’t creepy! She just loved it.
I am also always on the hunt for the perfect purse.
My mom’s birthday is actually coming up, but it’s even closer to Mother’s Day. An expensive but worth it time of year!
I hear you – my father and father-in-law both have June birthdays, and Matt is May. Add Father’s Day and Mother’s Day, and it’s a busy two months!
Happy birthday to your mom, Dana! What an amazing gift this post is to her.
Thank you Nicki!
What a beautiful gift for your mom. And the pictures, my goodness! So gorgeous.
My dad was really into photography when I was a baby – we have some great photos. The one in this post is my favorite.
Hi Dana,
Your mom and I grew up together. I relate to a lot of what you said about her. She was always a special friend to me, honest, kind and fun. She always listened well.
You are fortunate to have her as your mom. And she is so blessed to have such wonderful daughters.
I met you once when you were the age of the beautiful picture you posted. And I hope I get to meet you again.
All the best,
Teddi
I’m so happy you could relate, Teddi – thank you so much for letting me know. It’s nice to hear lovely things about my mom from other people, especially those who have known her for so long.
Very sweet Dana, and a great gift for your Mom. You’ve definitely set the bar high with this post – thank you 🙂
Thanks Steph. I just hope the rest of my family doesn’t expect a post on their birthdays – I’m tapped out! 😉
Lovely!!
Thanks Denise!
Beautiful post and a wonderful subject. I may have to try this myself.
You should, Sarah! I sat on it for months so I could give this to my mom for her birthday, but it’s always a good time to share the love!
This is too sweet. Happy Birthday to your Mama with the well manicured nails 🙂
Thank you!
Dana, this is so beautiful. What a great tribute to what sounds like an awesome woman. I see where you got it.
You’re making me blush, Mandi. She is pretty awesome, though – thank you!
Happy birthday to your mom! That is such a cute story about the watch. This post is a beautiful gift for her, too!
And she can’t return it. 😉
What a sweet post! Hope your mom has a wonderful birthday!
Thank you!
Fabulous! And yes – we should let our loved one’s know while we still gave them in our lives! Happy Birthday Dana’s Mom!
Thanks Allie!
Thank you very much for the mention, Dana! Greatly appreciate it. 🙂 I love your post! Mom’s so often think their efforts are in vain, I think – that no one is really paying attention to all they do and all the ways they help us. I attempted to dispel that theory in my post. You, however, absolutely hit the ball out of the park with this post. Love it and I hope all moms everywhere (yours included) will as well. 🙂
My mom loved it, Marcia. I’ve been waiting to post this one since I read yours in January…it was worth the wait!
Thank you girls for all the birthday wishes. And a special thank you to my wonderful and talented daughter, Dana. You made my day – although I had to go to breakfast with my sunglasses on…..my eyes were too red from sobbing! It was a good cry and well worth it. LUV ya’!!!!
Luv you too!
Grinned when I read she’d already bought the watch … and it was on sale. My mom would have done the very same. Happy, Happy Birthday to your mother. May she have a zillion more!
Thanks, Kelly!
You just scored points over your sister for best birthday gift ever 🙂 Happy Birthday Mrs. M!
I warned my sister that I would win today 😉
This was sweet. I had to laugh that she had already bought her own gift. My mom saw something in our PX here last November. I knew she would never see it again so as soon as she left to go back home, I went back to get it. It was for her birthday in December but I ended up giving it to her at the end of November when I saw her again (because I can’t hold on to a gift if I already have it).
Happy Birthday to your mom!
Thanks, Kenya! I laughed about the watch too – I couldn’t blame her when she told me that it was half of the original price!
Happy Birthday Mom Montenegro!!!!!
You know you’re one of her favorites, Sue. Mine too. <3
This is a lovely piece of writing. My mother passed away about 7 years ago. We always butted heads, even in my adulthood. It would have been nice if we could have both shared little pieces of love with each other. I miss her like crazy.
I’m sorry for your loss, Valerie. My mom and I butt heads occasionally, but I do make sure she knows how much I love her.
Happy Birthday to your mom, Dana! And by the way as a teen, it totally drove me nuts when my mom was right, too!
I know it drives my teen nuts…although she rarely admits when I’m right. I just let it go.
Well said Dana. Happy Birthday Mom!!!
Thanks, Ames.