I think there is a lot of wisdom to be learned from the moms who have mothered before us, yet all too often we do not tap into their stories and experience.
To spark conversation through the generations, and learn a few things myself, today I am launching Real (Experienced) Moms on MomsToolbox.com.
Each Thursday I will feature a new mom who has a child or children over the age of 20 years and her answers to about 15-20 questions concerning her mothering style and experiences. I have been collecting the interviews for a few weeks now and hate that I have to wait weeks to share each of them! They are great reads!!
It is my hope that we will all be blessed by these moms’ honest stories and discoveries. I plan to continue the weekly feature until I run out of moms to interview… and I hope that never happens! If you know of a mom I should feature, please send me an email and I’ll contact her as I can.
Okay, first up, in honor of Mother’s Day this coming Sunday, is MY mom, who confesses that she read my journal when I was younger. Good thing I was writing about good things!!
Sit back and enjoy.. and then come back next week to read my grandmother’s story.
Real (Experienced) Mom interview with Cindy (Who also happens to be MY mom!)
What are the approximate ages of your children now?
Son- David, 41 yrs., Daughter-Amy 37 yrs.
Do you have grandchildren?
Yes, 10- ranging in age from 1-15 years
What are some of the qualities that you admire in your children?
Their faith, honesty, and parenting skills.
How much of their personality now was a part of them as children?
I would say they are both more independent and more confident now.
Before your children were of traditional school age, were you a stay at home mom or were you employed outside the home? At the time, how did you feel about that decision? How do you feel about it now?
I was not a total stay at home Mom.
I worked for our own company then went into real estate. When I worked out of the home I had my grandmother and mother take care of our children or I had a private sitter. When I went into real estate my manager made an office for my daughter so she could come to the office with me. We also had a live in housekeeper and sitter.
I feel my decision was the best for everyone involved at the time. I chose a profession where I could set my hours. Now I feel about the same. I was able to have a career and enjoy my children and their activities. I think I was able to be there when they needed me.
Tell me about a difficult decision you remember making as a mom concerning one of your children. If you could do it over, would you make the same choice?
I read part of my daughter’s journal when she was about in the 8th grade. By reading it I realized how much she wanted to join the Baptist church… I was against it until I read how much she had prayed for us to let her join. We did. Yes, I would probably do the same again.
Tell me about something you feel you did ‘right’ as a mom.
I think I taught our children to stand up for their beliefs and for what they thought was right. I think I taught them not to take things at face value.
What were some of your family’s favorite meals that you served?
tuna casserole, corn bread dinner, Cornish hen, cheese burger casserole . I don’t use a recipe so each time I did these it was a bit different, but I can give you the basics.
Amy here. Since this is MY mom, I had to add to this answer…
One of my favorite foods we enjoyed at holiday gatherings was my great grandmother’s cream pie. My mom and I have especially enjoyed this through the years. I was thankful she always let me make it. I often double the recipe and use a deep pie pan.
Mamu’s Cream Pie
3/4 cup sugar
3 TBS flour
1/2 stick butter
1 1/2 cup milk
Combine and stir over medium heat until thick. Pour onto prepared pie crust and sprinkle with nutmeg. Enjoy once it has set.
My mom also always let us lick the batter bowl for just about anything we were baking. I thought everyone did that until I helped bake at a friend’s house in high school. There was much use of the scraping spatula and no bowl-licking over there!
Did you establish or follow any family traditions with your children that you especially cherished… then or now? Tell me about a few of your favorites.
We always spent Christmas and Thanksgiving with our children’s grandparents. Decorating the Christmas tree with our children was special to me and filling their stockings was always fun. Opening Christmas presents on Christmas morning was another special time with our children. We give our children and grandchildren Christmas ornaments every year. I think being together any time is a very special thing in life.
How did you celebrate birthdays with your children? What about adult birthdays?
I tried to always give our children a birthday party with cake and gifts. Birthdays are a BIG deal to me… I love celebrating!
When your children were very young, did you have any hobbies you enjoyed just for yourself? If so, what were they?
Decoupage, sewing, macramé, ceramics, tennis.
What were some of your family’s favorite things to do together when you had preschoolers? Elementary-school age children? High schoolers? Now?
We spent lots of time at the beach from preschool age through elementary school age with other families who had children our kids’ ages. We went sightseeing and on small adventures on weekends in Texas, which was elementary age to high school age. From the time our kids were born we have always enjoyed eating out at nice restaurants.
Is there anything about your parenting style that you are especially proud of? What is it?
Guiding without the children knowing we were guiding. Respecting them as people and listening to them.
Is there anything about your parenting style that you now regret? Do you mind sharing that with us?
I can’t think of anything. As they say the proof is in the pudding… and we feel that we have been blessed with wonderful children who have grown up and become better parents than us and better individuals.
If you could give newer moms three pieces of advice, what would they be?
Listen, be involved, be respectful, listen, let your children make mistakes, listen, tell them you love them and give them warm fuzzies… even when they are old! OOPS, I went over three.
Is there a question I haven’t asked that you would like to answer?
Have faith in God, put your trust in Him… He has more control than you and He will watch over your children, say your prayers and don’t worry.
Amy again…Thanks, Mom, for being so honest and sharing this with all of us. I love you and feel so fortunate to have had YOU as my mom. I remember thinking, while growing up, that I didn’t want to be anyone else because then I certainly wouldn’t have nearly as much fun. I always felt cherished, loved, special and secure. Thank you for a wonderful upbringing!
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