In honour of Mother’s Day, I thought I’d share this post that I wrote awhile back on International Women’s Day….

My Mom (who I affectionately call “Mama” at times) is not only an amazing mother but my truest and dearest friend.  There is no love quite like the love between my Mother and I.  I have no way of re-paying her for the years of unconditional love she has given me.  I don’t have enough words to thank her for everything she does for me and our entire family.  And I will never have enough words to truly express the love I feel for her, or the thousands of happy memories I have of our time together.  But I will definitely try.

Like her mother before her (another amazing woman, my Grandma Hayes!), my Mom is the true matriarch of our family.  It is because of her that are family gathers together at every holiday filling our stomachs with her delicious meals until we are about to burst.  I have seen her plan, organize, cook, and prep for days to ensure that every last detail is perfect, not because she has someone to impress, but because it’s her way of showing how much she loves us.  I have seen my Mom work tirelessly at the same job for over 35-years to give her family everything they needed, wanted, or desired and even when she didn’t get recognition that she deserved, she continued to work hard simply because it was the right thing to do.  I have seen my Mom put her own time, schedule, priorities aside over and over again, to make sure others are happy, cared for, and loved.  It’s just what she does.  I just hope she knows how truly appreciated she is.

As mentioned earlier, I have years of memories with my Mama, but one that stands out in my mind, happened just a couple of years ago.  I was in the process of shopping for my bridal gown, and had had a disappointing first attempt at it.  Anxious to try on more gowns, I made a quick appointment at a shop here in Timmins, on a weekday night.  The plan was to bring my step-daughter Mariah and if I found anything I’d like, I’d bring my Mom back on another day.  So that is what we did – we shopped, I picked out some beautiful gowns, and the lovely sales lady eagerly stepped inside the dressing room to help me get into one of them. Then as she pulled back the curtain of the fitting room, so I could step out to show Mariah, there she was, her beautiful smile beaming from ear-to-ear: my Mama!  Overcome with happiness to have her there on such an important occasion, the tears flowed and my Mom enveloped me in one of her incredibly loving, perfect hugs. Later, my Mom told me she couldn’t just sit at home knowing I was trying on gowns somewhere else.  So she’d taken the next day off work, hopped in her car, and had driven 2-hours immediately after work to be with me!  Long story short, I didn’t find my gown that day, but the fact that my Mom knows when I need her and will do anything to be there for me, will always stand out as one my most favourite things about her.

This memory of my Mom’s love is just one of thousands or more that will forever lie embedded in my heart.  And I know in the years to come, we will continue to make amazing memories and become even closer friends. She will be there for me no matter what comes my way, and knowing that is beyond reassuring.  I will get to watch her spoil and love her grandchildren, and feel so blessed that my kids get to call her “Grandma”.  I will cherish every moment, big or small, that we have together.  And most of all, I will aspire.  I will aspire to be a woman truly amazing as my Mama and her Mom before her.  I will work relentlessly, give of myself unconditionally, and more than anything, I will love fiercely.