Life is complicated but the one person that loves us through it all most is our mom.  This month has been filled with joy and sorrow for me, as a mother, daughter and daughter-in-law.  Where to begin…..

My daughters:  I don’t think there could be a mom more proud of her children then I am.  My oldest daughter came to us a month ago to let us know she had applied for a scholarship to study abroad this spring in Japan.  The mother in me was excited for her and at the same time dealing with a pit in her stomach.  That is such a hot spot in the world right now.  But she received the scholarship and will be heading for Japan from the end of March to the beginning of August.  The pride outweighs the fear.  But bring on the chaos….paperwork and more paperwork…lol.  And in a week she moves back home for 3 months, which seems very very strange.  But she returns with a stellar semester behind her and one last hoorah with her mom….me.  It has hit me that when she returns she will dive in and finish school.  My time with her will have come to an end….she will have officially left the nest.

My middle daughter received her class ring and we received her senior pictures.  She is such a beautiful person inside and out.  But when did she grow up?  She received her acceptance to college and is set for next year….wow!  As for me I am going to cherish these final few months with her before she is 18 and ready to start spreading her wings.

My baby is the never ending smile I need in my life.  Does she try my patience….absolutely.  But the smiles far out weigh the trying moments.  When my days are long there is always a snap chat waiting to be opened with a silly and/or beautiful smile.  We start cheer season again this weekend….lord help me as I enter the world of cheer moms again…lol.  But I am so proud of her accomplishments and ready for the new season and all it holds.

My mother:  Well still no knee surgery.  It is so hard to watch her pain and not want to make it go away.  But life has a way of happening.  This month she was diagnosed with Stage 1 breast cancer.  Within 5 days of her diagnosis she had surgery which was successful.  Thank god….  She will now begin 3 weeks of radiation treatment.  The day of her surgery my sister and I were there with her and my dad.  Very few times in my life do I recall seeing her scared, and this vibrant woman I know looked so vulnerable, as a child in a senior body.  It reminded me that I need to appreciate her just a bit more because my time with her is dwindling away.  I may not be able to do much but I can remind her how much she is loved!  I have the wonderful memories we have shared.  And no our path hasn’t always been smooth, but no path ever is straight.  All I know is that I am going to spend the time we have left reminding her how much she is loved and how grateful I am for her.

My mother-in-law:  Thanksgiving morning my mother-in-law fell on her way to Thanksgiving dinner.  We rushed to the hospital where we were informed she fractured her Humerus in 2 places and a crack in another place.  We got her home with a sling, but were faced with her having episodes of passing out.  Finally after 4 more episodes back to the hospital we went.  Of course she was admitted, treated for dehydration and her blood pressure continued to drop.  But no real answers when she was discharged 2 days later.  So now home health is in helping her shower and assisting her 4 hours a week.  Here again is a woman I love beyond words.  When it comes to mother-in-laws I truly have the best.  A strong German Catholic woman who has made it her goal never to be in our business, almost to a fault.  It hasn’t been easy seeing her so weak.  A mother of 3 boys who was beyond thrilled to have granddaughters.  She has always kept her feelings to herself and hasn’t been much of a talker, but now she is letting herself go.  She accepts the help I can provide and has opened herself up to me.  A blessing for me…..for the first time in almost 30 years she said she loved me.  My heart smiled.  God knows I love her!!

So here I am, a mother, daughter and  daughter-in-law.  What I have realized is that I am strong, even when I feel like I can barely catch my breathe.  I am also one of the lucky ones.  I have been surrounded by women that  were fantastic roll models and I have raised strong independent girls.   I don’t know how the next few weeks are going to go let alone today.  I must give myself a break from being strong and recognize too that I am entitled to embrace all of the emotions that I am feeling.  I am blessed in all of my roles.  But recognizing life takes it’s toll is ok…..and tomorrow will bring a new day.  So I journey on.