Mother's Day in the time of COVID

My Grandma Jessie, Great Grandma Sheffer, great great grandmother, great great great grandmother, and baby Uncle Gary.

I'm so grateful for the many mothers who have influenced my life. My brother and I spent most of our childhood summers at our grandparents houses.

Grandma Jessie would take us to the boardwalk, amusement parks, and camping in the mountains with our cousins. She paid us a bounty on captured snails and tomato worms so we could go buy candy at the 7-11. She taught me about having fun, crochet, hairdressers, and a love of reading.

Grandma Kay would teach me about nature, gardening, canning, and cooking. She was a fantastic artist and taught me to trust my creative instincts.

I think it may have been Great Grandma Lund who told me about the "proper" way to hang clothing- by the side seams at the waist. Underwear in the center shielded from the neighbors by outerwear, towels, and sheets. Also, it was poor form to hang the underwear of opposite-sex unmarried singles next to each other on the line.

Great Grandma Sheffer was very active with the Grange and the County Fair board. She exemplified public service.

My mom reinforced many of the lessons from the strong, intelligent, and creative women from whom we descended.  She has added a few of her own traits along the way. Compassion would be one of her greatest gifts to me. She's supported me in my most stressed times. She has also shared some of my favorite adventures- camping, working, laughing, traveling, and loving me. I miss being able to hang out with her, but I am so grateful for the technology that allows us to laugh and to fret about politics and world affairs together. The worse thing about this pandemic for me is the forced separation from our family.

My daughter-in-law is a great mother putting her children's best interests at the forefront.

My mother-in-law has taught me acceptance. She wasn't sure what to expect from her imported DIL. We laugh at how she pictured me vs who I actually am. She has given me family recipes and treats me with love and respect.

My daughters are both strong, loving, intelligent, kind, and creative. I hope one day they get to experience motherhood themselves, no matter the form- biological or emotional.

I only hope and pray that I can be an influence for good on the people I interact with, much as the mothers in my life have been for me.