Tuesday, May. 04, 2010
A definition of Mom
Jan Huntsinger, Guest Columnist
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How does one describe a mother?
There are so many adjectives that can be used. According to Webster’s a mother is, “A female parent.A woman who has borne a child.”
That definition by no means covers it. I know several women who never experienced nine months of pregnancy but are in every sense a mother and the adjectives apply to them just the same.
My generation was blessed with stay-at-home moms. Mom was the first one you saw in the morning and the last one you saw at night as she listened to your prayers.
I had the security of knowing that regardless of what happened to me, my mom would always be the first to tell me it would be all right as she held me tight and wiped away my tears.
What do I remember about Mom? I remember her hugs, her laughter and her gentle reminders of my missteps.I remember her combing my hair and her encouraging words that my freckles were beautiful. She would tell me that when I looked at them I should remember that each showed where an angel had kissed me and not where a cow had kicked bran in my face, like my dad would say.
Mom would read to me, color with me, teach me to sew and most importantly listen to me.
She taught me to play hop scotch, jump rope and spent endless hours teaching the fine art of playing jacks. After all, she had been the champion jacks player when she was growing up.
She cooked and baked from scratch and taught me how.
I wanted to be a mother just like her when I grew up. My husband and I were blessed with two beautiful daughters who have grown into loving caring mothers.
I will never forget the day that one on my girl’s teenage friends said to me out of the clear blue, “You know what Mrs. Huntsinger? You are what I call ‘an everyday mother’” And then she hugged me.
This quickly became one of the best days of my life, for I had achieved one on the things I wanted to be in this blessed life. I had become my Mother.
Happy Mother’s Day to all you Mom’s. May you have a blessed day.
Jan Huntsinger, a Blue Springs resident, is a guest columnist for the Journal. To respond to today’s commentary, call 816-282-7001 or e-mail editor@bluespringsjournal.com.
