Another mothers - Cinda White

Another Mother – Cinda White
Do you have another mother? I am so blessed to have just a few women I can truly call “other mothers”. Yet another mark of how amazing my mom is that she in no way gets jealous of my “other mothers”.
Cinda White is another mother. She watched me grow up through my mom’s monthly bunco group. If you don’t know bunco you are truly missing out. 12 women, 3 sets of dice, add wine/food/candy and shake. You get the picture. My mom has played bunco since, well before I was born. Cinda was always there buying magazines, Girl Scout cookies, wrapping paper and I’m sure more stuff she simply didn’t need. Yet, she did it for me.
Over the years Cinda smiled as mom boasted with prom photos, photos with boyfriend come and gone, travel pictures, and tales of my adventures. Now as technology changed so too has our connection. Now Cinda and I are facebook friends where she still sees photos and tales of my adventures. Where from time to time we chat about how amazing my mom is, how life has grown us all up, and how sometimes growing up is hard.
I know on good days and bad all I have to do is pick up the phone, or drive to her home and whatever need I have will be answered. Love you other mother! Thanks for helping me to be all the woman that I am. I love you!

Mother Knows Best - Shirley Duckworth

After conceptualizing this random idea to write a blog on the 35 women who have helped to make me who I am there was no doubt that mom would be featured at #1. Yes, indeed she is my best friend, was the maid of honor at my wedding, she is the first person I call when I’m down and the very definition of unconditional love.

So, if I think I’m having a hard idea adjusting to the idea of being 35 no doubt she is too.. Me, her baby how did this happen?
Mom, I don’t know either.

I could probably write an entire blog on all the things my mom did, does and will do to always be the “Mom of the Year!” Here is a sampling of what I celebrate that she taught me as I turn 35.

• Moment’s I’ll never forget coming home to your chocolate chip cookies after school. The cookies diligently cooling on brown paper sacks. I’m pretty sure this is where I get my love of baking.
• Raking leaves with you… what seemed like every day of fall. Perhaps this is why each year the change of leaves makes me draw near to you
• “Mental health days” when you’d maybe, just maybe write a note saying I had a doctor’s appointment and instead we had an appointment at the mall. I can’t wait to share this tradition with my kids someday.
• Loosing us at Kmart (always a family favorite at holiday dinners). Yeah, maybe I’ll skip this one and not lose my kid while shopping. Umm… A girl can dream.
• Puerto Rico – Alpha Phi Convention where I had you initiated as a sister. You never were able to go to college, you gave up so many dreams I’ll never even know for me. It was such a touching day to watch you in your white dress get your sorority pin and know if even for a moment you were a “college girl” at heart. Aoe, mom aoe.
• You driving me to cello practice, early morning ski camp wake up calls and more although I’m still pretty sure you were glad when I gave it up. Now that I look back on all the random dance camps, music camps, science fairs and more. I simply ask how you would do it. I know the drive I have to help kids comes from the love you poured into me and my brother.
• The day you came over, held my hand as I called divorce lawyers. Neither of us knew what we were doing and we did it together.
• Christmas decorations, holiday lights and family gathered around the Christmas Tree. I’ll never forget the traditionally photos of us with our stockings gathered around the holiday tree. You always taught us the importance of family, of giving and the holidays.
• College drop off day when both of us cried.. and I was less than 45 minutes away. College graduation day when you and dad were so proud. You always taught me that there was more beyond high school and I should go after it.
• August 2009 when you dropped me off at the airport on my way to Sweden. You didn’t like it, you knew it was far away and you did it anyway.
  

So many memories, so little time!

Mom, you created the light in me. You nourish it and fan the flame. Each and every random dream I dream you are there on the side lines, driving me to the airport, sitting in the audience, getting up early or staying up late. I am who I am because of your love. Here’s to the next adventure! I love you!

Why am I doing this?

Change, it’s the only constant in my life. That’s been especially true these past two years.

Now less than a month from my 35th birthday it's come to my attention that we don't celebrate rites of passage anymore. I’ve always loved birthdays. I’ve always celebrated for the entire week. Yet, somehow 35 doesn’t seem like much to celebrate. We don't mark many celebrations past that 21st birthday, yeah a wedding, a baby, and maybe a new home. So after clicking around the internet I came up with the idea to celebrate my 35th birthday the 35 women who have most inspired me in my life. I was going to write them a letter, and send it snail mail. Then I realized that would only reach one person. How cool would it be if wrote the letter and posted a blog? Perhaps other women would want to find a rite of passage for them. How cool would it be if this little act could serve as one step in women supporting other women? Maybe something good can come out of this getting older thing, I certainly hope so.

So with a little fear.. (I’m not a writer you all.) I launch this blog. I is my intention to share one woman each day for the weeks leading up to the ”big day” and for the weeks after.. Till we get to 35 amazing women from all walks of life.
Here are 35 these women I celebrate as I turn 35. Thanks for your unconditional love, for being there with me on the good days and the bad, for allowing me to become the woman I am meant to be.