When you were 1 year old,
she fed you and bathed you.
You thanked her
by crying all night long.

When you were 2 years old,
she taught you to walk.
You thanked her
by running away when she called.

When you were 3 years old,
she made all your meals
with love.
You thanked her
by tossing your plate on the floor.

When you were 4 years old,
she gave you some crayons
You thanked her
by coloring the dining room table.

When you were 5 years old,
she dressed you for the holidays.
You thanked her
by plopping into the nearest pile
of mud

When you were 6 years old,
she walked you to school.
You thanked her by screaming;
"I'M NOT GOING!"

When you were 7 years old,
she bought you a baseball.
You thanked her
by throwing it through
the next-door-neighbor's window.

When you were 8 years old,
she handed you an ice cream.
You thanked her
by dripping it all over your lap.

When you were 9 years old,
she paid for piano lessons.
You thanked her
by never even bothering to practice.

When you were 10 years old,
she drove you all day,
from soccer to gymnastics
to one birthday party after another.
You thanked her
by jumping out of the car
and never looking back.

When you were 11 years old,
she took you
and your friends to the movies.
You thanked her
by asking to sit in a different row.

When you were 12 years old,
she warned you not to
watch certain TV shows.
You thanked her
by waiting until she left the house.

Those teenage years

When you were 13,
she suggested a haircut
that was becoming.
You thanked her
by telling her
she had no taste.

When you were 14,
she paid for a month away
at summer camp.
You thanked her
by forgetting to write
a single letter.

When you were 15,
she came home from work,
looking for a hug.
You thanked her
by having your bedroom door locked.

When you were 16,
she taught you how
to drive her car.
You thanked her
by taking it every chance you could.

When you were 17,
she was expecting an important call.
You thanked her
by being on the phone
all night.

When you were 18,
she cried
at your high school graduation.
You thanked her
by staying out partying
until dawn.

Growing old and gray

When you were 19,
she paid your college tuition,
drove you to campus,
carried your bags.
You thanked her
by saying good-bye
outside the dorm
so you wouldn't be embarrassed
in front of your friends.

When you were 20,
she asked
whether you were seeing anyone.
You thanked her by saying,
"It's none of your business."

When you were 21,
she suggested certain careers
for your future.
You thanked her by saying,
"I don't want to be like you."

When you were 22,
she hugged you
at your college graduation.
You thanked her by asking
whether she could pay
for a trip to Europe.

When you were 23,
she gave you furniture
for your first apartment.
You thanked her
by telling your friends
it was ugly.

When you were 24,
she met your fiancee
and asked about your plans
for the future.
You thanked her by glaring
and growling,
"Muuhh-ther, please!"

When you were 25,
she helped to pay for your wedding,
and she cried
and told you how deeply she loved you.
You thanked her
by moving halfway across the country.

When you were 30,
she called with some advice
on the baby.
You thanked her by telling her;
"Things are different now."

When you were 40,
she called to remind you
of a relative's birthday.
You thanked her by saying
you were "really busy right now."

When you were 50,
she fell ill and needed you
to take care of her.
You thanked her
by reading about the burden
parents become to their children.

Then, one day,
she quietly died.
And everything
you never did
came crashing down like thunder.

Please take a moment
to pay tribute and show appreciation to the person you call MOM.
There's no substitute for her.
Cherish every single moment.
Though at times she may not be your best of friend, and may not agree on your thoughts,
she is still your mother!
She will be there for you...
to listen to your woes,
your bragging,
your frustrations, etc.
Ask yourself...
Have you put aside enough time for her,
to listen to her "blues" of working,
her tiredness?
Be tactful and loving
but still show her due respect
even though you may have a different views.
Once gone, only fond memories of the past and regrets will be left.
DON'T TAKE FOR GRANTED THE THINGS CLOSEST TO YOUR HEART.
LOVE HER MORE
THAN YOU LOVE YOURSELF.
LIFE IS MEANINGLESS WITHOUT HER...

These thoughts are dedicated to my mother

Barbara Ann

Went to be with the Lord

July 25,1999

I hope she knew i loved her