I love my mother because, no matter the challenge, she loves life.
I love my mother because she cooked gorgeous meals for our family every day, for years. I’d yell, Ma, what’s for supper? and bitch, salmon patties, again? before we would sit down to eat, while that delicious food was her heart, warming the plate.
I love my mother because she throws a mean party. When I turned 7, she made sandwiches with cream-cheese icing and my peeps and I dressed up and ate in the dining room like grown-ups and she looked so glam with her black hair and smart suit and made us all feel so fancy.
I love my mother because she taught me how to fill my life with friends, and that your friends can be your family.
I love my mother because when I was little she refused to buy me trendy clothes or a pre-fab house for my Barbies. She’d put a plastic tablecloth on the kitchen table, cover it with junk and, make it yourself, she said.
I love my Mom because when I woke up in with a pimple honking the tip of my nose, she let me stay home from school. I tried to fake being sick but the thermometer saw right through me. My Mom said, sometimes we just need a day off.
My mother taught me to deal with anxiety and fear. She would force me to articulate what was scaring me and then ask, so, what’s the worst that could happen? I came to understand that outside of a natural disaster, I would most likely survive.
When I turned 40, my mother told me that the 40’s are great, but the 50’s are when you really begin to feel your power. She always makes me feel good about aging. She hasn’t told me yet what 80 feels like, but I have no doubt it burns the fire.
I love that my mother never complains about growing old. A couple of years ago, I was admiring her legs, when she lifted up her top, flashed her boobs and cried out, not bad for an old lady!
My Mom inspires some of my most outrageous characters and best lines.
At the end of the premiere of my first film, she got up in front of the audience and cried out: I’m Brenda’s mother and when she first told me she was going to make a film called WANKER, I don’t have to tell you I was mortified and didn’t know what to say to my friends, but now that I’ve seen it, I can’t believe how touched I am.
I love how my mother has embraced my in-house composer as her non-Jewish son. That she loves and fights with him. That she turned him on to chicken soup and matzo balls.
My mother taught me about choosing a good man and long-term commitment to love. To go through the ups-and-downs of life, kissing and holding hands.
My father died last year, in my mother’s arms. She gave him the best death he could ask for, and more importantly, she rocked his life.
A few days after the funeral, my mother looked at her reflection in the mirror and declared, Micki, the widow. When I cried, no, she said, that’s how people my age will see me.
Later that night, she announced: Brenda, I’m going to entertain. That’s when I knew she was fine. Not only would she survive her loving husband’s death, she would continue to grow and thrive. As it should be, she is alive.
In celebration of all things Mom, what do you love about yours?
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69 Responses to All About My Mother
That was most certainly momtastic, Brenda. Very much enjoyed learning about your mother. Thanks for sharing with us all. Ezra
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Thanks, Ez. The pleasure is mine.
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A year later and she’s still momtastic and you are still daughterrific. That’s a great relationship you guys have. Nice reading this again today. Ez
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Bless you, Ez.
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My favourite line: ‘that delicious food was her heart.’ YES!!!
THANKS for a heartfelt message….makes me happy happy happy….
So good, xxx JE
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Happy to oblige.
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Happy birthday to your lovely pretty mom😊!!
She is really Sweet and inspiring !!
Hearty wishes ❤😊❤
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Thank you! And welcome.
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Such a touching post, Brenda! Your mom is a beautiful person. Keep burning that fire! My mom is a giver and always makes me hopeful.
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Giving, hope.. so good! Thanks, Amy.
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Loved it.
Sent from my iPad
>
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Thanks, Carol. You know from where I speak.
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Love your mother and her daughter!
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Sweet words, JF, thank you!
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Just wonderful. Yes to 50’s rocking, yes to entertaining in the face of loss, yes to teaching your daughter to burn the fire (and to celebrating her Wanker.) This one made me tear up. What a lovely tribute to a fantastic Mom.
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Oh my, Brenda, you have outdone yourself, with your beautiful & marvelous tribute to your special, special Mom. Your descriptions of your mom’s wise and gentle raising of you brought a softness to my heart and tears to my eyes. I still
remember my Mom making me my favorite chocolate cake with chocolate icing and strawberry jam between the two layers of cake—, clear into my twenties!!!
So I know about loving one’s mom beyond the boundaries of love. May your
Mom’s 80th Birthday be filled with the wonder of you–her loving creation!!!
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That chocolate cake sounds divine. Thanks for your loving words, Myrna.
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I like to think I’m paying tribute to all Moms, wink, wink. Tears are good.
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Just delightful! Having each other makes you both very lucky ladies.
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Luck, or chaos as I prefer to call it. Thanks, Norm 2.0!
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what a wonderful tribute to me my loving brendale. what more can i say, except i love you with all my heart and am oh so proud of you.
your forever loving mom
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Thanks, Mom. Spreading the good word.
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And I love your mum for her lipliner and replying to you!
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Thanks for the laugh, Manja. Me, too!
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Aaaaahhh she posted a comment! Your mum sure rocks.
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Micki is no mouse. 🙂
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Beautiful! Both of you.
xo
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You know a lot about beauty, Karen.
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A beautiful tribute (to both your parents). Ruth Eliasoph
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Thank you, Ruth. As you point out, it’s about my Dad, too.
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Eu estive apenas tres dias em montreal e tive oportunidade de conhecer esta linda mulher matriarca que me conquistou e tambem ao levy meu marido. Essas pessoas sao iluminadas. Por que? Nao sabemos. Eu suspeito que é pela coragem de enfrentar desafios desde a tenra idade. Desculpem a minha escrita em portugues, é como consigo me comunicar pela alma
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Edith, thank you for your beautiful words that Google just translated for me. xx
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Happy 80th birthday to your dear Mom. Your tribute was loving and beautiful. She and your Dad have passed on those wonderful qualities to you Brenda. When Benjy and I were first married we were invited to Friday night meal at your house—it was so elegant and delicious. Your Mom made it all look so easy! All my love, Kathy
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Kathy, thank you for your kind words. From one of the best Moms I know.
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This is lovely Brenda…
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Hi Brenda,
what a wonderful and touching tribute. thanks for sharing:) Alisa
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So nice to see you here, Alisa!
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Touchant et émouvant! Ma mère est décédée il y a tout juste trois mois à l’âge de 94 ans paisiblement. J’ai vécu des moments incroyables avec elle, à son chevet et maintenant c’est fou comment elle me manque. Prends bien soin de ta maman. Bravo pour ce beau texte! Have a good summer with yours! XX Marie Lynda
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94 ans de vie! Que c’est beau. xx
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Some of your best work, Brenda. Very touching and I can’t believe the traction this post has garnered. As per our agreement, right now I intend to put your whole post on your very intelligent and knowledgable mom on my website as part of a JuicyLesson. Congratulations Brenda. You of course realize that you have reverted a bit to your childhood when writing about your mom. Without being critixal, you reminded me of compositions we used to write as kids. Was this reversion if I am reading you right, (write), conscious on your part or is it because of the subject matter?
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I write from my heart, there’s a child in there. Thanks, Jerry.
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No, thank you, Brenda.
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What a moving piece- inspiring for a daughter but also reminds me what is important to kids to remind me in my role as a mom….Thanks for posting it
Maureen at Picture This
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Secretly, this is a tribute to all Moms. Dads, too. Thanks, Maureen.
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I lost my mom a few years ago, but I will never forget how creative she was. She taught me about reverence and valuing people. She taught me about spontaneity. I miss her. So happy birthday to your ma. She sounds super great.
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Welcome, Tracy. Thanks for sharing about your Mom! Things we can all learn.
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My favourite post. Tell us more about your Mom! Happy 80th B-love’s Mama! Absolutely exquisite photos.
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Delighted you feel this way, Laurence.
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I love your mother, too!
Superb tribute for a great lady!!
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Love is to share. Thanks!
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*chills* what an incredible tribute to an amazing woman. Wow. I hope my kids remember me like this. So touching, and beautifully written. xo
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I’d like to think I am expressing what a lot of people already feel. Thanks, Beth! Good to see you here.
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Love this.
And what I love about my mom is that she’s always been flawed and made plenty of room for me to be, too. Because of this, we have a real friendship.
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Making room for each others’ flaws is deeply reasonable to me.
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Brenda, you are very, very lucky to have such a mom. Mine is a bitter old lady who has managed to drive all her family away. Sad but true. That said, it taught me that we make our own choices. And I am grateful for such a lesson!
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I’m so sorry to hear about your Mom, Muriel and so glad for the lessons you learned through her. Challenge is a great teacher. xx
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Muriel
Welcome to the club. My mom was a Valium doll whose life revolved around herself, her needs and her pills.
But I learned how to cook {in self defense) and {like you said} that I can decide how I feel
Best of all the experience made me fall in love with the linear opposite whose only fault is her bad taste in men ((me}}
O
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A mother is a universal figure – breaks all barriers and whispers the secret of love to all creatures. Was moved to read your post. I am sure you would love to read this post of mine – http://myriadmoodsofsudha.wordpress.com/2014/04/23/why-mothers-never-die/ .
Love and regards to you and your mother!
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Thank you, Sudha, and welcome!
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I love the way you love your mother, because it remainds me how much i love mine.
Amazing post for an amazing figure.
I´m glad this is the first post of yours i read. It won´t be the last.
A lot of possitive things for you and your mother.
Have a good day!
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Thank you for spreading the love.
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I’m catching up on my blog reading. I’ve missed too many of your posts. This was a lost summer for me.
I’m glad I’m here now. My mom is 80, too. I have a very complex relationship with her.
This is lovely. Thank you, Brenda.
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Happy to have you here, Samara. I hear you about your Mom. xx
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Thank you so much for sharing these thoughts with us! Kiss your mum telling her I admire her! I wish you and her the best
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I will kiss and give her your wishes, right back at you! Welcome, Merry Fairy.
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Marriage Media, Dhaka, Bangladesh.
Ferdousul Haque. Phone: 0088-01190467794.
E-mail: abroad2009@gmail.com
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mm after reading your blog, i like your mother
well told
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Join the club! Welcome, poet.
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Thanks am in now and its doing me good
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