Comments on: Obligatory Mother’s Day post

By: jinjer markley

jinjer markley — Wed, 06 Jun 2007 23:00:10 +0000

Kathleen,

Mother’s day is also a day to celebrate yourself. Of course, I don’t know much, but from the glimpses you’ve written for us, you are a loving, compassionate, wise and generous mother despite any circumstancs. Congratulations on being the mother you never had.

By: Ellis

Ellis — Sat, 26 May 2007 05:35:53 +0000

Thank you for sharing your story. Thank you for giving so much of yourself and for having the guts to tell it like it really is!

By: Emily

Emily — Fri, 25 May 2007 17:21:07 +0000

What a beautiful post! I am a soon-to-be high school math teacher (I finish my master’s in teaching in 5 weeks) who has no reason to be reading this blog. I don’t even know how I intitially came across it, but I find it extremely interesting, despite the fact that I can’t sew and have absolutely no connections to the apparel industry. But I keep coming back and reading, and I just had to comment on your entry. I just sent part of your post to this year’s class of the Duke MAT program because it was so touching. As teachers, we always hope that we are making a positive impact on our student’s lives, but usually we don’t know for sure. It means so much to me to hear how important the teachers in your life are to you, and I encourage everyone who might read this post to share such experiences with any important teachers in their lives. It is so easy to get burned out as a teacher, but knowing that we matter in our students lives keeps the flame strong!

By: Tina

Tina — Mon, 21 May 2007 02:35:12 +0000

Thank you for this. I was raised in foster care–in a wonderful home, thankfully–yet I still feel uncomfortable at Mother’s Day. It was always difficult to buy a suitable Mother’s Day card for my alcoholic mother who had so neglected my brother and me.

By: n i c k y

n i c k y — Fri, 18 May 2007 13:04:07 +0000

I was looked after by an elderly neighbour. I deeply regret not having a normal family life, and truly think that I am less able to function socially because of it. I am awkward in public and hardly know what to say to make small talk, or the right thing to say for the right occasion. I believe most of this is learnt in the family. The kindly neighbour who fed and clothed me was a happy recluse, and I feel that’s what I’m most comfortable as too.

By: Susan Cassini

Susan Cassini — Wed, 16 May 2007 18:40:07 +0000

I find it extremely difficult to buy those obligatory Mother’s Day cards every year. Those sugary sweet cards that wax poetically about nurturing, loving and wonderful mothers just don’t reflect how I feel about her. My mother, too is an alcoholic w/ borderline personality disorder. I ‘divorced’ her long ago, but since I live right next door to her, I have to deal w/her. I think of her as a senile and nosey neighbor and with a sense of humor I am able to cope. I buy a humorous card that says little in how I really feel. I try to find something good about her, like how she is a fantastic gardener; someone who grows such beautiful flowers must have a soul. She must have been tramatized and arrested in her development.
What a contrast with the cards and love I get from my own children! We have a loving bond and they send me those syrupy cards.
I have decided that I can’t ‘fix’ my mother, I can only live my life as a good and loving person.

By: Angie

Angie — Tue, 15 May 2007 20:35:20 +0000

Thank You Kathleen!

You may not have understood your value when you were a child, but the value you’ve given to my life is unmeasureable and we’ve never met.

Your blog made me feel like I could succeed with my business and your book filled in the rest.

I’m still growing my business and it’s still just a baby, but I credit it’s growth, to you.

By: Deborah

Deborah — Tue, 15 May 2007 19:38:46 +0000

Thank you for sharing such an amzing story and touching raw memories.You are an insperation.

By: Jean

Jean — Mon, 14 May 2007 23:18:46 +0000

I am hanging your story in the teachers’ room at our school as both a reminder of who we are to students and who we should be.

So many times we believe that what we do does not affect anyone and that it wouldn’t make a difference who was teaching our students.

Your story brought me to tears. I would consider my teaching life very successful if one student I have taught would have a similar memory.

Thank you for affirming for me why teaching and teachers do matter.

By: Ayanna

Ayanna — Mon, 14 May 2007 22:03:17 +0000

Not the obligatory mother’s day story I thought it would be when I saw your title. Thank you for sharing your life with us.
My mother and I have totally opposite personalities and I tend to tolerate her most times. After reading your story, I couldn’t imagine not having her around…even if she is nagging and worrying the heck out of me!!!