Motivational Monday - A Mother's Example

Throughout my life there has been a woman who has modeled strength, confidence and character. I am so lucky to call this woman my mom.

When my dad passed away many people talked about how wonderful he was. To this day people still do. The word hero might have even been used to describe him and though I do agree with the assessment, I can’t help but think another hero is still here on earth.

Watching my mom deal with my dad’s passing couldn’t have taught me a better example of how to respond to what life brings you. After my father passed my mom, a perfectionist, still wouldn’t accept anything less, even with her new circumstances. My mom decided to keep the painting business that my father had, and who best to run it but herself. With no previous experience as a painting contractor my mom learned very quickly how to make bids on different painting jobs and the differences between oil and water based paint. She also inherited the honorable title as landlord to the several properties that we owned around the area. She not only had to deal with the tenants but had to manage any problems they faced, whether it was a broken window, a gas pipe loose, loss of power, or a toilet running, my mom now had full responsibility for all these problems as well.

On top of all of this my mother still had her tasks that she had always had as a mom. Taking my sister and I to play dates, school, softball practice, and managing to still stay involved at our schools, volunteering to help out with various activities on campus. My mom managed to do all of this and still got dinner on the table by 6:00 o’clock. I found it so odd that people would continually ask my mom to do favors for them when she was one man down, yet she never even considered the idea of asking others for help. When my sister and I both had softball games at the same time she found someway to make it to both. Sometimes I thought she somehow duplicated her body because she did everything; cooked, cleaned, managed a business, and took care of the family all without a sore thought.

Today, with two full grown girls out of the house, my mother still maintains this go getter attitude. It’s because I have had a role model with such strength and courage that I have been able to push through the obstacles I have faced in my life. And you can too, you just have to remember that there will be times when you can’t control the situation, but you can control how you respond.

#courage #MotivationalMonday