Here’s a list of things my mom has not done for me:
1. Be “one of my li’l friends.”
2. Relinquish the right to check me. In public. On the internet if necessary.
3. Let me fall without warning and/or caring for my wounds when I got up.
4. Put me down.
5. Let me go.
6. Give me everything I wanted.
7. Protect me from heartbreak, ignore my heartbreak, and/or mourn my heartbreak.
8. Pretend perfection.
9. Excuse my bad behavior.10. Give me onomatopoeia where real words belong. (But she was full of parables).
We don’t get to choose moms but sometimes we get this lucky.
Still, I see y’all who never had this kind of love or maybe never from a single person you called mom or maybe for too short a time.
I see y’all who are missing and mourning the same today.
I see y’all whose do list is longer than your don’ts maybe feeling guilty; maybe feeling sentimental amnesia.
I see you all. And every time I look in a mirror I see my mama whether I like it or not. (I do for the record–cheeks, doe eyes, and all).
When that face stares back at me I also remember to whom much is given more is required.
I don’t take the responsibility lightly; I will tell you my entire life in a glance with the supersized screens she gifted me for eyes!
What I really mean is this face reminds me of the responsibilty my mama’s raising brings–when you get a full plate you don’t waste, horde, or gourge. You share.
So I won’t be bearing babies to fulfill this tall order but I have a full line up of nieces and nephews and a seasonally changing roster of young people to get the job done and the order filled.
darlene anita scott 