The definition of crazy

It is Mother's Day today. A time to reflect and share. A time to be proud of our accomplishments as the mothers of great people and for me to wonder if I did a good job raising the two I had. I will always have some regrets about the mistakes I made but all in all I think I did OK.

Being a mom is, as Oprah always says, the hardest job in the world and I wholeheartedly agree. My mom had it twice as hard as I did since she had twice as many kids as I did. Joan had 4 children in 5 years!! Between 1954 and 1959 she was continually pregnant and had someone in diapers. Cloth diapers. Just imagine that. It was work and she was not a Disney princess with birds or elves to help her out. It pushed her over the edge more than once. But somehow she pulled herself back up and over and jumped right back into it.

The generation that became mothers in the 1950s were a different lot. They were, for the most part, the "stay- at- home -let -the -men -be -the -breadwinners" of the world. It was true in Whitewood Estates and I suppose it worked. What I remember is a lot of crazy!! Imagine all those little ones all the time. It was a trend in our part of Jolen Drive to have 4 kids...4 of us, 4 across the street, 4 behind us, 4 next door. Sixteen kids who saw each other just about every day of our young lives and in many ways were raised together. For some reason my vivid memories of my early childhood revolve more around Brooklyn than home. The tornado of activity was constant and wild. Brooklyn was a respite for all of us. My grandmother and aunts made me feel special when we were there. They had what my mother often did not have, time to spend with me for a few minutes. They all turned out to be great moms. (My uncle is not to be forgotten, he is an amazing guy who continues to "mother" lots of us with his unique style every year).

So, to my mother and all of her high-heeled, beautifully dressed, always busy and always tired women friends from Jolen Drive, I salute you and thank you and admire you for what you accomplished. I remember what you all did and I will never forget the crazy!!

I think I can say that for all of us. Love,
Me, Cathy, Tedd, Lois, Laurie, Steve, Susan, Nancy, Gina, John, Paul, Peter, Donna, Kenny, Robert, Jackie