“My mom told me that I should trust the man who could see the sorrow behind my smile, the love behind my anger, and the reasons behind my silence.”
― Jill Shalvis, Always On My Mind
We seem to enter the month of “childhood” … Readers watch out and be aware 😉
As for today topic, as much as I turn and shape it, I am not able to figure out what I’m supposed to do with “Child’s Tales – Stories you were told or heard when you were a child”. Are we supposed to gossip? Myths? Old wives’ tales?
So as a CHILD, I take this week as an opportunity to say THANK YOU to my mum, considering it’s Mother’s Day on Sunday. Honestly, she’d freak out if she knew I’m writing about her, so I keep it basic.
I’m sure many mums would agree, that as we grow older, and possibly more mature, we appreciate the things our mums did “way back”, but the appreciation really expands once you’ve got your own children and you need to set rules and make decisions – the same ones you fought against as a teenager.
A few weeks back I tried to explain some maths transposition ( I love this stuff!) to my daughter. May I say, she’s a very clever girl and I just couldn’t figure out why the penny didn’t drop when it came to transpositions. I explained, tried to explain again and I have to admit, it might be partly my fault as well, because I simply haven’t got the vocabulary when it comes to Algebra. Anyway, I had her in tears and even more so when I started laughing. Needless to say, that upset her even more. I gave her a cuddle and told her why I laughed.
The picture of me and my mum had come to my mind, mum somewhat frustrated as she helped me with my homework. Was it math? I doubt it. Possibly more one of the languages. I had promised myself, if I ever have children I’d never get frustrated with explaining them a problem over and over. So much for that promise.
My girl saw the funny side in it as well. We had a hot drink and approached the transposition again. With success!
I’m not saying mum did it wrong. Oh no! I’m saying, I understand, late, but I do. I’m saying that whichever way she did it, mum brought me up the best she could and I am now reaping the rewards from the seeds she planted in me all these many years ago.
Being a mum’s not easy, but it’s a wonderful “job”, and it’s an even better job, when you had a great mum to prepare you for it.
Thank you mum. I love you and hope you have a great Mother’s Day, even though I cannot be there with you.
Angela Schroeder
Patricia Kiyono
Elaine Cantrell
Jeff Salter
Joselyn
Tonette Joyce
Four Foxes, One Hound 
When I suggested the topic, Iris, I hardly expected anyone to tell family secrets! Just stories! I expect yours were different from those many of we who were contemporaries in the U.S. heard, or even the regional tales, which vary.
Some people do things as their mother’s did, even on a subconscious level.Others,(I include myself here), saw some shortfalls and did some things exactly the opposite way with their children….which isn’t always the right path, either! Emotional baggage, world and family situations are vastly different in each generation, not to mention the changing world in which each generation lives. All we can do is our best. I am sure that you are doing well!
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I didn’t mean it like this re the secrets, but just the mere fact that I’m talking about her would have her in a fit 🙂
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Love it! What a great story! I have very clear memory of sitting at the dining room table in tears because I couldn’t understand my math homework and he couldn’t find the words to explain it! And, I swore I’d be more patient with my son… and eventually I was! 🙂
Great story! Really loved it!
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Aww Kate … glad there’s someone else with the same memory 🙂 Glad you’ve got the patience, I’m still working on it.
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Nice post, Iris. You did a good job of talking “around” this week’s subject, just as I will probably have to do bc I have no idea of what I can write about for tomorrow. (Unless a childhood memory strikes me from out of nowhere!) Who came up with this week’s topic, anyway?? LOL! You have relayed a very touching memory with your daughter. You are lucky to have such a memory. 🙂
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Talking “around” ? LOL …
Thanks, Janette. Yes, I’ve got many happy memories from my childhood and I’m even happier my girls are listening to me when I’m telling them :-).
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Oh, I’ve got many memories from childhood, just not much to do with stories.
Janette
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You are complicating matters! Surely we’ve all been told stories? I came up with the topic, but until I started writing my Friday post today,I had no idea where I was going with it, or what story(ies) to talk about.
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Wonderful tribute to your mom… and I love the moment you had with your daughter over Algebra.
Dealing with kids & homework is ALWAYS difficult, even when you have mastery of the material… but I often found I had to review several pages of their material in order to comprehend what the kids were supposed to do (and how to do it).
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They keep changing the way they want it done, Jeff! New terms, new math signs…geeze.
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I hear ya, Jeff … I was helping her last night wit geometry …. I swear she was talking to me, but I have no idea what she said … LOL …
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Great memories, Iris. My mom didn’t help us much with homework, but she always made sure we got it done. She’d take us to the library when we needed more resources, and even took the bus to Nixon’s campaign headquarters when I needed material for a report (yeah, this was a long time ago). Like you, I never appreciated it until I was the one helping my kids to get their work done. And now that my daughter is a mom, I’m sure she’ll be guiding her kids with the same helpful hand.
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Thanks Patyy. Helping is not just sitting down and helping with homework, but as your mum did, helping finding resources and material. Your mum did a great job helping you in this way.
I’m sure it’s interesting for you to “watch” your daughter’s relationship with her children … possibly with a little smile once in a while ?
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