This is the second in the series of stories about my family.
There really aren’t too many funny stories about my mom. In fact, the only one I can think of is about her trip to Señor Frog’s a few years ago, and she would probably rather I didn’t tell that story. So instead of telling a funny story about her, I’m going to tell a sweet story about her.
In high school, I lived with my dad and three brothers, and I would visit my mom’s house occasionally. One day she wanted me to come stay the night at her place after school. I told her I couldn’t do it because I didn’t have any clothes to wear to school the next day. So mom took me on a trip to Jo-Ann Fabrics, and she made me clothes to wear the next day: a blouse, a skirt, and a vest (it was the late 80s…). I really don’t know any other moms who would sew an entire outfit overnight like that. I cut the patterns and pressed the seams, and she did all the stitching. I think that might have been when I first started learning to sew (as an adult, I’ve taken quite a few jobs as a seamstress.)
Another quick mom story… When I was in college, I signed up for a quilt-in-a-day class, and invited my mom to join me. I brought the fabric, and she showed up with an entire picnic lunch for the two of us. She had no prior quilting experience, but she enjoyed machine quilting so much that it became one of her main hobbies. She now goes on annual trips to Pennsylvania for quilting fabric, and I think all 7 of her children have something quilted that she has made.
Photo of my mom with me as a baby
My mom is currently living in Virginia with my youngest sister Danielle. She works as a nurse/manager in managed healthcare.
Question of the Day (again directed at my siblings): Do you have any funny mom stories (other than Señor Frog’s)?
micheledodge
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{ 14 comments… read them below or add one }
Hey Danielle,
You’re gonna see me this week!
hi=) sorry i’m a little late… haven’t checked my email in about a month :X. i miss you ‘Chel & Kevin! =(
Odd = Yes
Boring = No
You should give us family members a chance to get some revenge… I mean, an opportunity to repay the fond memory postings.
Don’t you think it would be a bit odd (and boring) for me to write about myself?
Mom,
Thanks for the insight into what was going on in my early childhood.
I think there is a conspiracy… Chel seemed to skip herself as a blog topic.
I have in some way or another “prayed” for each of my children from the day they were born. I wasn’t a believer in Jesus Christ until 2004. I have found something supernatural that helps me through each day, hour, or minute. The most painful experience in my life that I deal with to this day was leaving Chel, Michael, Kara, Kevin and Russell with their father so that I could develop a skill in order to support myself. My plan was that if I could support myself that I could better support each of my children whether emotionally or monetary. When I called the house in Hamilton, I was hung up on so many times by their father, it discouraged me. I drove out to Hamilton and was told “the kids don’t want to see you.” Even though I had joint custody the police officer told me that he couldn’t do anything for me to see my children. I learned that the divorce settlement was just a piece of paper and was not enforcible. I could not force my children to see me. At the same I was struggling to go through Nursing school with emptiness, anger, fear that I would never see my children. I had no faith to give me strength. I’ll be the first one to admit that I gave up and was hoping that my children would forgive me because I knew that they would blame me. When I graduated Nursing school, I got a job at Loudoun Hospital so that I could possibly see my children when they got out of school. This was also a failure because like normal children they wanted to be with their friends. I’m happy that they were learning to socialize. I loved and missed my children so much that I married a man that didn’t treat me well. In the back of my head I thought that he could support me and that having another baby would fill this emptiness. When I had David, yes it was a distraction from the emptiness, but I still felt the loss of Chel, Michael, Kara, Kevin and Russell (my baby). I decided that I didn’t want David to be an only child, so I decided that i wanted another baby. I got pregnant right away. Michele was going off to TJ and then Kara asked to live with me. I was so happy and excited. She came to live with me and helped with David. She came to my sonogram appointment for my pregnancy and together we found out “she” was a girl. Kara got really upset because she always wanted to remain my baby girl. Danielle was born with both hips dislocated. At the same time David was being evaluated for growth hormone deficiency. I felt like I was living in a crazy world. Kara and Chel were struggling with emotional issues at the same time that I was in the hospital with Danielle having her hip surgery and a cast applied from her feet to her neck…It was a emotional Living Hell.
Currently all is well. I miss each one of my children that have grown. I think about each one of them everyday. David just went to college Texas A&M in Galveston. I’m feeling the empty nest syndrome. Danielle is currently in Texas with her brother. I hope that they get closer this way.
I keep myself going by my faith in God and praying that my children will forgive me for the hurts that I’ve caused them. If it were not for this faith, I don’t know where I’d be.
I was recently diagnosed with Fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome. I believe that I’ve had these disorders since I was a teenager. Now I have labels for them. I pray that Chel, Michael, Kara, Kevin, Russell, David and Danielle will forgive me for the lack of time that I’ve spent with them because of my own fatigue. I now know that this fatigue was caused by the change in the neurotransmitters in my brain, because of both physical and emotional pain throughout the years. I’ve never told my children about the nightly pain in my legs that didn’t allow me to get a good night’s sleep. One good memory of their father is that he would make hot wet towels to put on my legs at night and massage my legs. This is the best memory that I have of Lewis. This was a caring act of love. Lewis struggled with anger problems that taken out on me on a daily basis. I could no longer live with this. I was in fear for my life. I had no faith in anything at this time.
When a new part of McLean Bible Church was built I added each of my children’s names on a prayer card that is and will forever be in the wall of the new building. I also added prayers for each of my ex husbands. On the floor of the auditorium I wrote the same prayer with permanent marker to include grandchildren to be.
Kevin, your writing is beautiful. Your insightfulness is far greater than mine will ever be. I am SO PROUD OF YOU! I love that fact that at a young age you were able to take on a big responsibility of a lovely wife and a wonderful son. I pray that we will become much closer when you move back to the States.
I love Chel for creating and giving me a phone call about this blog.
Love,
Mom
Mom,
You didn’t ruin churches for me.
The following is probably contradictory to your own thoughts on the matter, but there’s nothing wrong with variety.
The faith requirement based on what other people before me believed ruined church for me.
I apply cold reason to everything. The only way to have religion is faith and faith isn’t based on reason.
I like how religion can help people and make for a gentler society. I’m still undecided as to whether the benefits of religion out-weigh the cost. That cost being discrimination and disrespect towards others that don’t share their own beliefs.
I like people that use their religion towards a helpful end for themselves and others. I don’t think helping others is converting others. Sharing ideas is fine, but offer free English lessons and food in a third world country as long the benefactors read the bible is just wrong.
My wife is Buddhist with a dash of archaic shamanism. She doesn’t expect me to believe what she says about the super natural. So, I don’t have any problems with her religious aspects.
In my opinion, people who believe in super natural devices or deities are just basing their life philosophy off an idea. An idea is something to be explored. I find, instead of exploring this idea, people explore the affects and implications of their idea.
People who present arguments in favor of their own beliefs do have reason. Unfortunately, the reason is based on their own or shared ideas.
As an example: Someone says” the proof God exists is that you’re here.”
That is a contradictory statement. For that statement to be true, God would have had to have created the universe, but the question is whether God did or not.
Another popular statement that people make is “the devil’s greatest trick was making people not believe there is a God.” That’s also dependant on there being a God in the first place. So, it’s not a valid argument. It’s an examination of the implications of their idea, not the idea itself.
So, the primary argument goes back to faith, which for most people is a feeling. No one can argue how another is feeling, but they don’t have to take their feeling as fact.
After all of that, I respect your differing thoughts and feelings on the matter. I want whatever is best for you.
I actually like when someone says “I’ll pray for you” as long as it’s not praying for me to learn the “truth.”
Love,
Kevin
Kevin,
I remember you crawling under the pews. Was Red Hot potato chips the beginning of your life of eating spicy hot? David has some drops called “Too F..n Hot.” He left them behind for me!
I guess that I ruined churches for you. I now attend one without pews…it’s more like an auditorium.
Mom
Chel,
The story was very touching, it brought a smile to my face and a laugh about Senior Frogs in Puerto Rico. David and Danielle could give an up close and personal story about Senior Frogs…except what happens in Puerto Rico stays in Puerto Rico…Sewing is wonderful. I wish that I had more time to do it. David and Danielle are currently driving from Ft Worth to Galveston. David’s excited because he thinks that Hurricane Dean may come his way. David and his weather…
Well, this was when mom was only bringing Russell and I.
Gabreial – Feel free to contact me if you want some pointers for getting started with your sewing.
Kevin – I don’t remember mom buying you red hot potato chips, but I do remember you crawling around under the pews an awful lot…
You’ve gotta come back to the States for a jalapeño eating contest sometime!
That sewing story is very sweet. I have no idea how to sew and I’ve been staring at that machine for few months. Thanks for sharing.
As a youngin’ I got in trouble in Sunday school a lot.
Mom decided that I should attend service with her. If I behaved myself, she’d buy me a bag of Red Hot Potato chips from the Villiage Market.
Now, I still don’t like church, but love Red Hot potato chips.