Wonder Woman gracefully teaches Love.

It’s that time of year, and my tree is glowing in the corner of my living room. Warm smells of cinnamon and pine heat the air. My little girl eagerly checks the tags on the presents under the tree with a childlike wonder and curiosity. I tend to bake a lot in the winter, mostly the nostalgic memory of my mother baking all winter drives me to relive those days when I would come in with icy cheeks to a freshly baked loaf of homemade bread. Life seemed simpler in those days. How did she hold it all together? She was always gracious and loving, always there with a big smile and caring hands to help me remove the wet gloves and socks from my near frost bitten toes. She always found a way to make the winter special and magical. My mother was like the calm and caring mother from Bambi, always answering all of my questions of wonder with a knowing charge, and graceful manor. She made it a point to make it clear to me her feelings of absolute love. I have never questioned the fact that my mom loved me more than life it’s self. I have tried in my own parenthood to carry that down. I love my daughter more than I love anything or anyone in the world. I can see my own childhood in my daughter’s eyes. I’ve always believed that the material wants of life are far less important than the memories that we carry with us in life. The memories and interactions with those who are important to us make up the people we become in life. That saying “He who dies with the most, still dies.” is solid fact in the concept that is my life. I’ve never had a lot of money or physical things in my life, but the memories I have will always be a part of my soul. I think that the memories we create in life are much more important than any fiscal gain. My mother spent her life sacrificing to make my life a string of warm and happy memories. I can only imagine the things she gave up for us. How unselfish she must have been, and how determined? I only hope that I can be this successful as a parent, and pray that my own daughter will someday look back with the understanding of what I have given up for her, and know that I have absolutely loved her unconditionally. This year has been hard, but liberating. I’m doing everything on my own and my one comfort is the knowledge that she did the same thing with four children and still managed to keep her loving demeanor and never lost her mental strength. She kept us all afloat when the sea of life was at its most ferocious for her. She excelled in a stressful situation and came out gracefully and magnanimously. Being an adult and still being so close to my mother I have come to learn some of the dreams and hopes she gave up to keep us clothed and fed. My mother is my closest and dearest friend. I’ve grown up with her and learned from her mistakes as much as I could. I am eternally thankful for her gentle guidance and ability to balance authority with the friendship we still share. I can remember being my daughter’s age when she held my hand and told me that I was her best friend. She and I have always had a special bond, as have my other brothers and sisters. My mom has been the heroin of my life. If there was ever a woman that was a wonder to me it is my mother. I hope someday that I can fill those shoes for my own daughter. My mom is my hero. She keeps me going when all seems hopeless, coming up with brilliant options for my life’s direction. She is my strength and guidance, she is my idol and I admire her strengths and her weaknesses. How lucky I was to be the one to draw her as a mother out of the heavenly lottery of birth.