Mother's Day. . . . My Grandmother

Mothers are unique and should be honored throughout the year not just on Mother's Day. What does your mother mean to you? There are father's, grandmother's, and others that have been mothers for so many.

Mother's Love

I did not know my mother very well as I was raised by my father and grandmother. I called my mother mama. Probably because that was what I heard my father calling her, so she was mama to me also. There are a few things I remember about my grandmother.

I'm a Mom What's Your SuperPower

Home

I have shared this before that my mother and father never married. At the age of two I was in Foster Care. I remember so well, because I did not want to be there. My father explained to me he had to go to court to get me. That was all I knew at the time. A boy about 6 or 7 years kept hitting me in the head and the Foster Care Lady did nothing. Although I do not remember a lot about my mother, I remember she visited me there and witnessed the little boy hitting me. After my mother yelled and hollered at the Foster Care mother, the little boy never hit me again. I was so thankful for my mother that day. Finally, my father came to get me. I told the Foster Care Mother, "I am going home and I will not be back." I lived with my father and grandmother and that was home for me. My father would still take me to visit my mother. I told him one day, “I do not have to see my mother, I have you.” His response to me in a quiet voice, “You are going to see your mother.” He made it clear that it was non-negotiable. I did not understand then, although I do understand now.

Petite

I remember my grandmother was a small petite woman. She always told me she was mixed with Indian. I believe it too.   I remember both my grandmother and my mother were outspoken women. Neither one of them would hold there tongues. Proverbs 18:21, “Death and life are in the power of the tongue.” I recall as a young child complaining to my father that he did not spend any time with me. There would be times he would go to Chicago to party. I would whine before he left stating over and over  that he did not spend any time with me. I was only about 3 years old, but I knew how to whine. I would almost have him staying home.  He would tell my grandmother, “Maybe I should stay home.” Then my grandmother would tell him, “No Steve, you go on and go, Betty will be alright.” I would be so mad at my grandmother.

Moles

I remember my grandmother had small moles on her face and on her body. I always said to myself that when I grew up I would not have any moles. As a child have you ever said that you would or would not be like your mother or father when you grew up?

Organic and Naturally Healthy Mother's Day Gift Basket

Strawberries

I remember we had our own strawberry patch in the backyard. I could go pick fresh strawberries, whenever I wanted. I thought that was a treat.

Discipline

I remember my grandmother had no problems whooping me. I remember her and my neighbor's mother told me and my best friend Valda not to eat our neighbor's green apples. Well one day our neighbor was not home and her son that was about our age 5 or 6 years old told us to come get some green apples from the tree.  Well we thought we were in apple's heaven. When we got home my grandmother asked if we ate the green apples. We knew we did, but we lied and said no. Apparently, my best friend Valda's mother was watching from her window and knew we ate them. My grandmother politely said go out in the yard and bring me a switch. I naturally found the smallest switch I could find. My grandmother stated to me, “That is not a switch.” She then went out and picked out the largest limb she could find. Now she started whooping me. I was drama. I thought let me start hollering before she even hit me. I would fall out in the floor exclaiming, “You are hitting me in my head and my ear.” She only replied, “If you hold still you would not get hit there.” Those were days I will never forget.

Housekeeper

I remember we had a housekeeper named Adelia. I did not know why, I just know that we did have one. I loved Adelia, she was very kind and very soft spoken unlike my grandmother. I remember Adelia would comb my hair. I was very tender headed and could not stand a lot of pulling on my hair.

School

I remember when I started school at age 4-years-old. I was so excited. I had already started reading at around age 3 because I was so hungry for knowledge. My school was Fredeick Douglass Elementary. It was a couple of blocks away. My grandmother would always walk me to school. I did not want her to walk me to school. I wanted to walk alone like a big kid. I told her one day, “You do not have to walk me to school, I am not a baby.” She replied, “I am walking you to school anyway.” I remember as I got older she allowed me to walk to and from school alone. This one particular day I stopped by the store. There was this particular candy I wanted. There were so many kids there it took me to long to get waited on. My grandmother said she was worried and it took me too long to come home. I will always remember that day, because, Yes, I got another whooping. I loved my grandmother and I know she did what she felt was best for me at the time. I will never forget her. 

Source:

Personal Experience

Proverbs 18:21

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