This remains my favorite photo of my mom and me. Because it epitomizes my childhood. It shows why I am the woman I am today.
Mom let me be me from the beginning. I was never a girly-girl. I wanted to catch bugs and get dirty and play outside. My hair was never brushed and my feet never wore shoes. Mom let me run free (at least until the street lights came on) and let me drink from the hose and ride in the back of dad’s truck. She let me bring home rocks and strays (both in the animal and human sense) and loved me even though I thought Barbies were dumb and would rather play with GI Joes and Micromachines and dinosaurs.
She let me stumble. And through scraped knees and broken hearts she kissed the pain away and placed bandaids on my owies.
And here I am as a woman and she’s still loving me and accepting me as she did when I was a little girl. And I still run to her when I need help dressing my wounds.
It’s hard being away from this incredible woman on days like today and I look forward to our daily phone call this afternoon. I’ve always got her with me...even from 1,400 miles away.
Happy International Women’s Day Momma. ❤️