| MY MOM "I don't know - I need eyes at the back of my head", my momma would tell me. And she would know. Four boys and me - the youngest, - the baby girl of the family - all filling her life - full to the brim. Mom was and is the nucleus. We, on the other hand, were and are the radius she needed the eyes for. Five different children, all needing to be 'kept an eye on'. As I was growing up I realised what a hub of information and operation my Mom is. She is 'where it's at'. Mom knows the prices on the groceries, who sells what for what quantity and where. My mom knows which wool company took over the other. My mom receives a pension, but is like the bank of England, - being able to save each dollar, starting off small, putting very little aside. There's always a loan available from my mom, should we, her now older children ever need one. "It's always there for a rainy day, Helen. It would benefit you to do the same thing. Try and put some money aside, but tell no-one" Not being content with the mundane life of a retiree, my mom serves a variety of people. Voluntary caring of the aged. (*She* is not one of the aged. God forbid!) Voluntary caring of the physically and mentally disabled - her 'Specials' as she warmly refers to them. Voluntary service on 'the Van'; a bus which travels around town at night, offering hot drinks and donuts to the people on the street. It is so very hard to enjoy a weekend with my mom. She is always off somewhere - "on my travels", as she often claims. Not only does she care in-house for these people, but she assists with scheduled excursions. Milkshakes and movies, bowling, Wonderland, the Blue mountains camps, Wombeyan caves, tourist spots in Canberra and Sydney are some of the destinations she has accompanied her clients, to assist with their care. Either that or she is on a day trip with the aged folk from the nursing home. At this current time, my Mom is facing quite a dilemma. She has always had varicose veins in her legs. Then later, thrombosis and phlebitis. Now, she has a suspected leg ulcer. "There's no way I can carry on like this, Helen. I cannot lie here, resting my legs, day after day. There's things to be done. I'll have to go for that operation". My heart is troubled and my soul wrestles at this. But.... I know deep down that the Lord has a plan for my mom. And because she touches our life and the lives of others, we are all involved. We are all participants. Now that I'm a momma, I am even more grateful for my Mom; who she is and what she has done. I am grateful to the Lord for giving her to me. She was created just for me. I, on the other hand was created to be her 'baby girl'. When my life as a mom becomes trying, I think on her and giggle, as her sayings still flood my mind and heart. I have revised the old saying of hers - the one she was often heard mumbling. Mine goes - " I need eyes, ears and another mouth at the back of my head". Can you imagine? Sets of eyes, ever-watchful, the maternal guard. The ears, to catch the questionable sentences, hear the coughing - or perhaps the choking? The mouth to give instruction, warn, reprimand and answer many. Just like my mom. My mom tells me that there will be time for 'me' some day, as a mom myself. She would know! If my life could be anything like hers, I still have to wait a while. She may only be experiencing her 'me-time' now! |