No one ever outgrows a mothers love

No one ever outgrows a mothers love!  My son who has been serving in the Middle East for 2 years will return to the states in 2 weeks.  At the bottom of my Mothers day card he wrote this "I can't wait to be able to call you everyday"

I can't either son.  He is 30, and independent, and successful, and self sufficient and still likes to call me.  He doesn't call because he needs to, or to solicit advice he calls because it feels good, because he can and it puts him in touch with what he holds dear, family.

This had me think about how the family dynamics and how our society has changed over the decades.  How parenting has changed.

What happened to the parents that did not tolerate laziness in their children, instilling in them to make the effort.  Thank you notes were not optional, manners were a must.  Values were learned by what we saw in our parents and said parents were not concerned about being our friend.  Consequences were owned not argued over.

While I think there are still a great many parents who still parent this way, it saddens me how many children are not, and how this will carry them into their adult lives.  I think of all that could be missed.

I wasn't the perfect parent and being a single parent many years, there were struggles however one thing I think that my children always knew is that they were loved and mom had their back however they also knew if they were wrong they needed to own that.  Being a parent does not mean we always have to agree with our children, it is loving them through it and in spite of it.

A bit off track? Maybe but you know how I roll!

I guess my thoughts on this are mothering is everlasting. It will always be, though it will not always be as we remember.  Our childhood layers rust, peels and goes away, but deep down under the surface there is residual.  My kids don't call me because they need me- (well sometimes they do ) or because they have to, but because they want to. 

So much has changed over the years that has a direct impact on the ways of our society.General kindness, civility is an heirloom.  I listen for the past but I cannot hear it.  I cannot even imagine the future of the next few generations.

I canned strawberry jam this week and  I wondered if my daughter and daughter in law will ever know the satisfaction you feel when you place those jars on the counter top and hear the melodious sound of the tops popping.

Last night my 10 yr old curled up in the recliner, nearly asleep he said mom, would you get me your green blanket and cover me up?  I smiled as I went to the basket( which is filled with blankets ) to get him My favorite.  A quilt made for me years ago by my mother.  It is worn, having been washed many times.  I carried it to him and as I laid it on him I thought about the work and love that went into the making of that quilt.  I have loved it back just as hard.  Useful to me, not put away so it doesn't get ruined, not saved for a special day, or so it will be nice when I pass it on- Loved like the one who made it.  He recognized out of all the blankets this one was special.  It had me think about the loss of time when quilts were made for warmth and not for money. 

I know all this from a sentence in a card, imagine what I can do with a whole letter!

So much goes into raising a child, but so much more comes out of it.  I am reaping the benefits now as my adult children can now be my friends.

Choose your words carefully, your actions more so.