This time of year we celebrate a wonderful holiday in dedication to our mothers. They are the ones that we love dearly, get left by at the grocery store because we ran off and the ones who ask us a million questions over the phone. They are the leaders of the family, taking the best of care of their kids, even if these kids annoy their moms and drive them crazy.
It’s kind of funny, most of my friend’s moms have loved me like their own, and I usually end up calling them "Mom" or "Mama," too. Back home in Southeast Louisiana, there’s about a 98 percent chance if you are there by your “homie’s” or “bestie’s” side through the best and worst times, then you become something more. You become family, and I have learned that you never turn your back on family because family is forever.
For many of my friends back home, we have gone through some deep turmoil, and if you really care about that person, then you become family, blood of their blood. You cry together, do crazy reckless stuff together, and the list goes on forever. It’s crazy because you either have moms that let you do whatever you want or moms who don’t. In this crazy world there are people that become a mother to a child, even if they don’t want that privilege. But I am super grateful for my mom even though I don’t tell her enough. During high school there was one early morning that changed everything for my friends.
One of my "mom’s" (my best friends’ mom) died, and it hit us all hard. The pain I felt isn’t comparable to how my friends felt, but they were my brothers and sister, and I felt love for them and I needed to be there for them. On this day I happened to be sick at home, and the fact I couldn’t go see my friends’ nearly destroyed me. It rocked our community, and everybody that knew her.
After that, I realized how fortunate I was to have a loving mom. My friends’ mom loved practically anybody that came to her house, and and she extended her love to anybody that needed it. There were friends that didn’t have it as fortunate that she took them in as one of her own. It is how she treated me and everyone else and she was loved by practically everyone.
This day I knew I should never take my mom for granted, and many times I have been in the wrong, she still loves me because that what moms do. Moms love without condition and will always have the best interest for you.
Since that August day in high school, Mother’s Day doesn’t feel the same. Of course I tell my mom, “I love you, Happy Mother’s Day,” but it breaks my heart every year as it rolls around because my brothers and sister (my very best friends) don’t get that chance anymore. It kills me, and I don’t want to know that feeling; the feeling that your mom isn’t going to be there anymore. But their mom is there…every day. I can see in their eyes and face and how they love each other and everyone else. They extend the doors open to many people and love like nobody else has ever loved. Their mom raised them right. I know one day they will get to see her face to face again, but until then every year around this time, the fact remains.
To my mom, I’m sorry for my attitude sometimes, and all the wrongs I’ve done. I thank you for raising me the way you did, even though I didn’t get to do some things with my friends that you didn’t let me do, I still love you for it. To those out there that will read this, I don’t understand or know how you feel, but I hope one day you will have that opportunity to see them again. For those who read this, don’t take your mom for granted and cherish every moment you have with her.
