Valentines Day – Past and Present

My mother was born on Valentine’s Day. This would have been her 95th birthday. She died in 1981.

I look back at my relationship with my mother and compare it to my relationship with my daughter. I hope we have it better. I know we have it different as I was a single parent raising a child. My mother was the stay-at-home mom raising 2 kids. I loved my mother, but we just didn’t seem to get along when I was in my 20s. I guess it was more of a nothing in common, or so I thought.

I look at my daughter now (in her early 20s) and know that we too do not have a lot in common. And yet we do stuff together quite often. Hopefully I learned how to be a parent from what I thought I was missing in my parent.

Sure wish I was the better person some 40 years ago because I would have relished my mother’s company more. And we could have crafted together as she was very creative and artistic.

This picture was taken on Valentines Day 1981 at my dad’s retirement party. My mom died 2 weeks after this picture was taken. That’s me second from the left. Also in the picture is my brother and his wife. My dad died 23 months later, and my brother died about 3 years ago.

So as I wax sentimentally on this Valentine’s Day, I want to say I love my daughter and mother (happy birthday too). For my step-mom (my dad remarried so I call my step-mom my mom), I know you are reading this, so happy Valentines Day and I love you too!