In Youth we Learn....
In age we understand.- Marie Von Ebner Eschenbach
As I think about International Women’s day and Women’s History month, my mind goes to strong women I learned about in school- Mother Theresa, RBG, Marie Curie, Amelia Earhart, Jane Godall, Helen Keller, Joan of Arc and many more. But when I really think about women who I admire and have inspired me to be a strong woman, I think of women in my personal history rather than my history books. There are several amazing women in my life, but let me tell you about three.
Peggy was the first Sunday school teacher I remember, the mother of my best friend and basically my second mom for many years. I loved the way Peggy would let us watch movies with cinnamon sugar toast and jump on the trampoline for hours. They took me with them on weekends to their family cabin, she taught me to play solitaire and made special pancakes that looked like Mickey Mouse. Peggy always made feel special and loved. Peggy is self-less, loves her family, other people and God and you know that about her the minute you meet her. When I think about my early childhood, there are many memories with Peggy and her family and I am so blessed that I had all the time with her. Peggy - if you read this, I love you.
My Grandma Laverty comes to mind anytime anyone asks me about role models. My mom’s mom was the personification of love and service. She and my grandpa lived out their lives loving people, serving and sharing joy to their community and beyond. Grandma taught me to sew my own hair scrunchies, taught me everything I know about baking, played a mean game of rummy and took me on a roller coaster when she was 80-something because my big cousins ditched me and I was sad. Grandma worked hard her whole life and I never once heard her complain about any chore, responsibility or say a negative word about anyone. Grandma Laverty was everything I want to be when I get to be a grandma.
I’m going to let you all say what you want, my my mom is truly the best mom in the entire world. When I think about the woman I want to be- its my mom. She is loving, patient, kind, humble, fun, creative and those are just the top adjectives that come to my mind. She’ll tell you she wasn’t the best mom when we were growing up but that’s false. She made holidays special- with little debbie snack cakes in my lunch. She would wake up early and make me breakfast and do my hair until I was a senior in high school. She drove me to school most days when I was in high school (even though we lived less than a block away) so we could drive through McDonald’s and share a mcmuffin. My mom still goes above and beyond to make my life and my family’s life special. She listens and remembers the important things. She knows what treats to have on hand if you visit and makes you feel like you’re her favorite (even though you have 3 sisters :) ) I never fully understood how much my mom did for our family until I got older, became a mom and try to do my best the way she did all those years.
I hope that when you hear things about women’s history month you can look back on women in your life who made a difference, who loved you and made you feel special.
