I don’t think I could ever do what you do, raising two precocious boys on my own. I’m fortunate to have a lot of help.

You are also more poetic than you know. I love your line “I won’t be shiny but will be in the sun!” That’s perfect!

My mom would definitely agree that I have strong opinions…I tend to be “strongest” on those I love the most.

You hang in there. You are an amazing mom and you have two fabulous boys! And I love you!

It would be cool to live much closer, but if I ever get to Pittsburgh or the UK, I will definitely count on you to show me around. 🙂

Who knows, maybe you’ll get to central FL. We have a lot of theme parks!

I think you rock Reggy! I don’t find you neurotic nor insecure. Just another amazing woman looking to find her way in the world. 🙂

Okay, who is this commenter and what has she done with my mother? She surely can’t be talking about me. 😉

I honestly did not know that abuse against women is such a problem in your country. I am, unfortunately, the typical American in that I don’t know much about other countries–good or bad. I hope that unnecessary violence does not touch you, or your new little bundle.

There are so many ways I could have chosen to honor this day. I decided to keep it close to home this year. I’m lucky to have so many amazing women in my life, both near and far. I wanted to reach out and let them know. 🙂

Melissa,

I am soooo touched, humbled, and honored that you have mentioned me in your tribute to International Woman’s Day. To be mentioned by someone who I think is truly amazing is mind boggling. I think you give me too much credit but I’ll take it! 🙂 As my mom points out to me on days I feel low, there are way more women out there that have it worse than I do. I am not beaten, starving, or fearing for the safety and well being of my beautiful boys.

You have been and will continue to be my inspiration. You are a wonderful mother, friend, and wife. You have strong opinions and values that you express not only to me but to the world. I love that about you even when I am on the wrong end of those opinions! You don’t accept failure and turn unpleasant situations into positives. I have realized recently that I will never be a shiny, happy person but I try to look at the spin you put on things and look at things through sunglasses, i.e. I won’t be shiny but will be in the sun!

You have been my friend through everything even when I didn’t deserve it.

God bless you and your family, Melissa because YOU are truly amazing. I am truly blessed to have you in my life!

Thank you for being such a dear friend to me. The past few weeks have been difficult and I love that I could count on your kind words to pick up my spirits and put me in a much better place emotionally. I know that if we were closer (distance-wise) that you’d be someone I could count on.

I hope I don’t ever have to, but know you can count on me if you need a friend.

And in all honesty, the picture isn’t me. But she is lovely. xoxo

Belated Happy International Women’s day!

I want to hear what people say because I will, as usual, usurp some of the praise, because whether in spite of me, or because of me, I take credit, in part for the truly incredible woman my daughter has become.

She is every bit the things she says I am, but did I mention beautiful? Always has been, always will be. And I’m talking the DROP-DEAD, turn and stare when she goes by variety! I never was. I used to wonder who this child was, and how I ended up with such a beautiful human. Then, I look at a picture of her next to my Mother’s, and I know.

My daughter is commpasionate to a fault, not only with her family and friends, but toward the entire WORLD! Every issue from starving children, to cloth grocery bags. (Did I forget to mention the Polar bears!?) I was always “issue conscience. I’m an old hippie, and we DID love our causes! It was easy to sit and argue againt war, or famine, or injustice from the saftey of our barstools! My daughter, on the other hand, sends ideas and thoughts and solutions out into the world via the net. Now granted, we didn’t HAVE computers in the 70s, or even the 80’s…too hard to plug them into the rock walls of the cave! She has a huge arena of knowledge to use and to share. But she DOES it!

My daughter is a mother now. And she, as a mother has the wonderful opportunity of working from home. This allows her more time, more interaction with my grandsons. That aside, just BEING there doesn’t make you a good mother. My daughter isn’t. She’s a WONDERFUL mother. She is the mother that looking back now I wish to God I had been. It is a true testiment to my daughter’s will, and stubborness, and downright determination that she became the incredible, talented, caring woman she is.

I know, and have known in my life, many wonderful woman. But of all the woman I know, my daughter is the one I am most proud of, most impressed with, and am truly blessed with the opportunity to be a part of her life.

The highest compliment I can give my daughter is to say that if she weren’t my daughter, she is a woman I would want as a friend.

Mom