mothers day

Four generations of mothers for the first time, starting off with my mom and me. 

My dad was in the Army, stationed in Germany, and my mom traveled alone to Germany, pregnant, not knowing anyone. She had no family around, but the Army wives and the landlord's wife, became her support system. I admire her for being a first time mom living in a foreign land, surviving and thriving. What a way to begin the motherhood adventure.

This is me, 40 years ago with my first child, my son. My story is quite different from my mom's. Once my mom married my dad, she never lived in the same town as her parents. Todd and I lived in Kettering about two miles away from my parents. My parents babysat, they popped in to say hello, they helped balance life as my family grew, and would bring over impromptu meals. The kids were blessed to have their grandparents involved in their everyday lives. 

My daughter-in-law with her first child. On the day Owen was born, she became a mom and gave me the new role of Grandma (Didi). Witnessing our children fall in love with their child and their new roles as parents is a deeply rewarding experience. For Todd and me, the opportunity to bond with our grandchildren and be a part of their lives is a wonderful blessing.

My daughter with her son on her first day of motherhood. Shortly after her son's birth she and her husband found out that their little boy was born with a hole in his heart and would need open heart surgery. What a way to begin the journey of parenthood. They learned very quickly how strong they could be in a time of crisis and once their son received his good bill of health, discovered that there is a lot of joy in parenting.

"Motherhood is the biggest gamble in the world. It is the glorious life force. It's huge and scary – it's an act of infinite optimism," - Gilda Radner