Since my Mama Dear’s Birthday is this week and we are still talking about love for the month of February, I thought I’d write about the love of a mother.
The Greeks use the word storgeto describe parental love. Newborn babies are dependent on the love, protection, and provision of their mothers during the formative years of their lives, particularly after birth. Babies are helpless and their survival depends on the mother. The dependency leads to bonds being formed by both the mother and child. This kind of love is automatic.
My Mama Dear has always said that we girls are the best thing she ever did. She is our biggest fan, offering encouragement, motivation, and inspiration. She also offers a swift kick in the pants when we need it– the accountability when we resist what we know is the right thing to do.
My Mama Dear isn’t just a mama to my sisters and me. Through the years, she has adopted our friends, boyfriends, and husbands—not to mention the bazillion cousins I have whose moms have gone home to be with the Lord. She stands in the gap, offering the surrogacy mothering that they need. These cousins feel more like brothers and sisters, which I’ll talk about next week.
My Mama Dear is where I got my creativity. She is a storyteller, writer, poet, songwriter, singer, actor, crafter, and all around jack-of-all-trades. If you need something made, she can make it. If you need something fixed, she can fix it.
The physical traits I inherited are the eyes, the cheekbones, and the hourglass figure (try not to laugh at me as much as I laughed at myself).
She is also where I got my high cholesterol. Thanks mom! My sweet tooth is an affinity to which I assign her blame, er, I mean credit. But, because of her, I am a decent cook. She always called herself the Chief Cook and Bottle Washer when we were growing up, even though she worked outside the home most of the time.
My Mama Dear and many other mamas have given of themselves, their time, energy, and money to raise their kids to be productive members of society. I hope we are doing them proud.
I can’t conclude my post without giving a shout out to a few special people who have mothered me over the years: my city mama, Angie Masters; my other mama, Gayle Grimsley; my country mama, Vera Hines; my Aunts who have all mothered me— Sue Preston, Kat Smith, Etta Tucker, Judy Wood(RIP), Sabra Childress(RIP), Gwen Hunt(RIP), and Monica Smith(RIP); even some of my girl cousins but there is no room to list them here. Yeah, my maternal grandparents never heard of birth control.
I am thankful for my Mama Dear and my surrogates. They are mostly responsible for making me the woman I am today—a woman who lives and loves with all she has.
Love hard peeps and if you are blessed enough to still have your mama with you, call her up or go see her and give her a hug. I love you Mama Dear.
Do you have any special mama moments to share? Surrogate moms that have filled in for you? I’d love to hear from you.
I am blessed as well to have your Dear Mother in my life. She has always been there for me, encouraging me and loving me. She has like you said extended her love to all those around her which makes her the “dear” individual that God has shared with others.
My Mama, Sue Faircloth Preston, is the most amazing people I know. She has loved me unconditionally and even in her pain in her later years continues to put me, my sister, Lori & brother, Steve, first and our well-being.
If not for my Mama I don’t know where I would be today, as she has been my solid rock. A big thank you for my Mama, Aunt Charlotte and the other surrogate Mama’s out there who have loved me.
I love you more than words could ever express.
Paula Preston Turner
Paula, you made me cry. What a nice comment. This blog was difficult to write because, “more than words could ever express” is accurate. Thanks for visiting.
I also feel very blessed indeed. I have been the recipient of unconditional love from your mama dears, Aunt Charlotte and Aunt Sue my entire life. I have had many “Mothers” in my life, but the love I have been given from my Father’s sisters has been a true extension of his most unconditional love. I feel very blessed to be a part of the Faircloth Family, a family that truly loves without question with all that they have. Love, your cousin… Lisa
Your daddy was a sweetheart. My memories of him are vague since I was young but I remember his loving kindness…and the candy dish. We are blessed to be a part of such a big, loving family. Thanks for stopping by.
Yall must cut this stuff out! I’m trying to be on the computer but my vision is all blurred and my face is wet!! Love you all!