Happy Mother's Day Mum

Today i am reflecting on my wonderful mum JILL ADAMS

Not the best photo of her. Here she is teary at my brothers wedding.

My mum was pretty cool, well still is. Here she is as a teenager when she lived in the country town of Corowa NSW.

I remember being that child who didn't want to smile when a photo was being taken, or didn't want to go on family holidays as i could have so much more fun staying at home having parties with my friends. As i got older i would call her horrible names and tell her that i hated her and wished dad would leave her etc.... OMG so bad. I would be going to the night clubs when i was 16-17 and not getting home till 3am. Shocking, I can see how i am so lucky with Gaby. I must of used all my bad geans up and only good ones were left for my daughter to get....
If only i could turn back time. I am so sorry i put you through HELL.

I did settle down by the age of 19 and married Jason when i was 21. We are about to celebrate our 17th year of marriage this month. I am sure my mum was so very glad. We had built our first home when i was only 20 and we had our first child when i was 23. I always new wrong from right and always knew my boundaries even if i pushed a little to far in my teenage years, i still was a good girl at heart.

Family is so very important to me and i love my kids more than life itself. I now have a child who doesn't want to smile when family photos are being taken or one who doesn't want to go somewhere when the rest of us do. That was me.
I regret thinking that my mum knew nothing and that i knew everything. HAHA how wrong i was.

When i became a mum for the first time i lived a 1 hr drive away from my mum. If i needed her it was no drama for mum to get in the car and come straight over. Even if it was to just babysit at the last minute for a couple of hours.
If we wanted to go away for the weekend i knew i could rely on mum. Never once did she say no.

Then almost 8 years ago we moved 15 hour drive away from her and even then, every school holidays mum (as mum is a teachers aid and would be on holidays herself) would drive or fly up to visit us. Still does to this day unless she is on holidays overseas with her friends.
She calls every day or two just to see what the kids have been up to or just to see how we are.

One thing i am extremely bad at is getting presents to people on time. I always remember everyone's birthdays and call them but it takes me a week or two to get the present in the mail.
Mother's Day i am worse. I call mum but rarely do i send a card. I recall a few years back mum calling me and telling me she had broken a coffee cup i had given her when i was about 16. WOW she was still using it. Of course she was, as mums would be using a cup a child gives them.

Today as i wake and my kids have nothing organised for me i am feeling really sad, as again i have not sent off a card or gift to her. I called her first thing but it just isn't the same. I should make that effort as i do want my mum to know how i feel about her and that i appreciate every phone call and every visit, oh and the phone calls i make to her when Gaby needs new ballet shoes AGAIN.
Never is anything to much for mum.

It's nothing for mum on a weekend to take off to Sydney to see my brother & his wife as they have a new baby Henry who is about 7months old. Or i will call her up just to say HI and she will be in Melbourne shopping with friends. Never one to sit still. Mum makes amazing quilts and gives them away to friends or family. I have many. This one she made for me with my wedding dress and bridesmaid material. All by hand, every stitch.

Mum is a having more fun now in her 60s than ever. She is traveling the world with her friends, as dad isn't interested in traveling.  She organises a trip every year with a few girl friends and they love it. All are shoppers so leaving the men behind is no worries for them. They shop til they drop. They have been to China, Thailand, Barcelona/Spain, Venice, UK, Hong Kong, Paris, Portugal, Italy, Germany, Switzerland, Scotland & Ireland and now are all heading back to Thailand this year again.
Here they all are in China having the time of their lives. 

Sue, Roz, Mum & Sandra

I want to thank you for being the most beautiful and caring women in the world. I do not contact you enough as life gets so busy but i want you to know that I love you & I always think of you. x

Mum you are the most influential person in my life and i just want to write to say thank you.

Happy Mothers Day Mum xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Love Pen x