by Trish Rudder
I was lucky enough to have two mothers that loved me, nurtured me and taught me to be kind.
I was also taught to love myself and to love others even when others were not loving toward me.
My birth mother died when I was very young but I still feel a sense of warmth when I think of her and see a connection when I look at her pictures. Even though a veil exists, I feel the bond between us will never be severed.
My second mother, Grace, jokingly said the only reason she married my widowed father was to get me.
She taught me to “do unto others as you would have them do unto you” — the Golden Rule and she showed me the value of integrity, humility and empathy.
This was a mother who valued independence and taught me that as well.
She insisted that I had backup skills to earn a living even though I wanted a college degree that would allow me to pursue my goal as a newspaper reporter.
All of this parental guidance from my mother stemmed from her experience during the Depression. She had limited office skills which led her to take jobs in the hospitality industry – wait staff or maid service in resorts during seasonal months.
She wanted something better for me. “It’s important to find a job that does not require physical labor,” she said often, and I was able to earn a living while looking forward to working as a journalist.
Mother’s Day for me is remembering both of them and expressing gratitude in my prayers.