Like Mother Like Daughter

Nancy, about age 3

My favorite photo of me and my mom. I love her smile looking at me and I love how I want to touch her face.


Nancy in Petra

Happy Mother's Day, Mom!
Not too long ago my mom was in town. Whenever she's here she loves to spend time with her kids and grandkids. I tell her everything we've got going on and she comes to whatever she can.
She's a good listener and I found myself talking to her non-stop for what was probably several hours. Telling her everything that was interesting to me or funny. The thoughts I'd had lately or concerns I wanted advice for. Telling her about my kids achievements, successes and disappointments and the things they said or did that made us smile. Telling her about my achievements and disappointments or the funny things I'd said. (And she's so good at making you feel good! "Oh, Angela! You're so funny!" she says. She laughs at all the right places!)
I realized later I was like a kid all over again saying,
"Watch me, Mom! Look at Me, Mom! Mom, listen to this!"

I wonder if the need ever goes away to have someone to love you like your mother does?
Someone who you can talk and talk and talk to and she listens and laughs and validates and celebrates success and cries with disappointments or encourages you to keep trying.

I asked my family if they could think of things my mom always says. Dan replied instantly, "Always something positive." (Of course I'd already written that down!)
What are some of the things my mom did that I do now that I'm a mom?
Read to my kids every night before bed.
Each of our kids learns an instrument and practices every day.
100% Whole Wheat Bread
Natural Peanut Butter
Read the labels on food items.
Fruits or Vegetables at every meal.
High priority on PBS Kids TV.
Not too worried about shoes or socks when out and about.
Loading the dishwasher in a very organized manner.
Singing out loud (potentially embarrassing my kids, but knowing they'll get over it -- I did!)


Quotes from My Mom--the Wisdom of Nancy Marie DaVinci Reagan
(Yes, that is her legal name. But that story is for a different time!)Nancy on donkey in Petra

Success:
"Just 10 more minutes of study is the difference between a 'B' and an 'A.'"
"Think Positive!"
"Practice one measure at a time. Do it 10 times until it's perfect. Then go on to the next measure and practice it 10 times."
"Our family memorizes their talks."
"You'll be happy you took pictures!"
"You'll be happy you wrote it down."
"You'll be happy you practiced so much."
"You'll be happy you studied so hard."
"You need to write that down." (When something good happens or something funny is said.)

How to Treat Others:
"If you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all!"
"Life is like a boomerang; whatever you say about someone else--good or bad--will always come back to you."

Health & Nutrition:
"Sugar rots your teeth, makes you fat and ruins your brain."
"So what if it says it's 'natural'?! Gasoline is natural! Would you drink gasoline?" (On being careful of what advertising tells you.)
"Too much TV rots your brain." (Specifically applied to cartoons, I think. PBS was okay!)
Teaching with Song:
"When we're helping we're happy and we sing as we go!"
"Let us Oft Speak Kind Words to Each Other!"

Family Life:
"I'll wash the dishes if you keep bringing them to me."
"What I want for Mother's Day is a card that you made."
"My kids are smart, kind, beautiful, wonderful... They're amazing. They really are."
"I have the best kids in the world. I'm not just biased. I really do!"
"I have the cutest grandchildren in the world. I'm not just biased. I really do!"
"Make sure you're in some of the pictures--not just behind the camera all the time."
"Where is my brown brush?!!"
"The first 6 weeks after having a baby your main priority is to nurse it and bond. Enjoy it! Try not to worry about anything else."Love you, Mom!