You Never Stop Being a Mom

Family Search's May 6th question was: How has your mother or being a mother enriched your life?

My mom is my best friend. She has raised me well, loved me, and inspired the kind of mother I am today. Even though I am grown up and have children of my own, my mom is still a mother in every sense of the word. She still helps me, she still teaches me, she still gives me advice, she is still my mom.

When Gerson and I first got married, my mom called me what felt like everyday. After a while I got annoyed and told her that when I wanted to talk to her I would call. I think I hurt her feelings and she brought it up to a sister in her ward who also had some grown up daughters. She told my mom, "Just give her some space, and she'll start calling you in no time." Fast forward seven years, and my mom and I rarely go a day without talking and we see each other several times a week.

Having my parents live so close has been really nice, I know I'm spoiled for that! For the first three years of my marriage, the places we lived in didn't have washer/dryer hookups, just laundromats. My parents were kind enough to let us do laundry at their house on Sundays. They fed us dinner on Sundays as well, a tradition that we continue today even though we now have a washer and dryer. They have also rushed to help us with car problems. During the first year of our marriage, we had two tires become flat on the same day, and my dad paid for brand new tires.

My parents are always willing to watch my kids. Benjamin and Luna have such a great relationship with their Grandma and Papa. Benjamin is the one who gave my dad the name of "Papa," and Luna calls him, "Papi." My mom has had several different names throughout Benjamin's linguistic development: Mama, Mamaw, Gan-gan, and Grandma. Right now Luna calls her "Mama."

My mom is always ready and willing to help me when I need it. During both of my pregnancies she went grocery shopping with me when it became too difficult to go on my own. Also when I was pregnant with Benjamin, we went to the temple together once a month. When I was pregnant with Luna I was also doing my student teaching. I had major stress during the final month of student teaching, so my mom made dinner for my family every week night until I finished student teaching. Both times after Benjamin and Luna were born, my mom stayed for a week - even though she lived 10 minutes away - and helped me with my kids and cleaned my home.

My mom has always had a strong testimony, and has been an amazing example of following Christ. She has always been bold in sharing her testimony with me and teaching me right from wrong. Her example has definitely help me through some difficult times. And as she continues to be an amazing mother to me, she inspires me on how I mother my children. I hope to have a similar relationship with my children, that my mom has with me. I love her so much.