Mammy

'Grown don't mean nothing to a mother. A child is a child. They get bigger, older, but grown? What's that supposed to mean? In my heart it don't mean a thing.'  Toni Morrison

It's her milestone birthday today and even though I'm not allowed to say which one, I WILL say she's a long way from being an octogenarian just yet- Heaven forbid! (Although with luck, some day, God willing, fingers crossed, stars aligned, all being well, she will.) She and Daddy have been married for nearly 44 years-there's six of us-three boys and three girls-and over the years she's gradually acquired three sons-in-law, three daughters-in-law, sixteen grandchildren...and counting!

We celebrated her birthday properly on Saturday night- my sister came from London, my brother  made a surprise trip from California, and I know this made her happier than all the champagne, cake and presents put together. As she looked around the room, at all her children and their spouses, she told me how blessed she was to have such great children, and such wonderful sons and daughters in law. I told her then, that it didn't happen by chance. I told her that I'm learning from her how to do it right. That she's STILL showing me how its done, and one day, maybe I can be more like her.

Herself and the first four...

You see, she lives for her family, more so now than ever. She opens her door and her heart to all of us, often all at once!  Shes one of the least selfish people I know- there's never too many mouths to feed, no baby too cranky, no tantrum too
loud, no argument too noisy. Her opinion is valued and her company sought. Along with Daddy, and sometimes solo, she guest stars on all of our summer holidays...if she can squeeze us in. She's softened as she's got older- lifes's little nuisances don't bother her anymore- she's got her priorities right.

 No pushover, mind, she shoots from the hip but never ever, holds a grudge. She's fiercely loyal and refuses to conform for the sake of it. In her mind she's still thirty-five- nothing stops her and her diary is full. One of my favourite memories of last summer, was seeing her scramble up the climbing frame in the park with my children..and she reached the top before they did! So amazing is her energy that we all like to forget that she's not that young anymore.

Today is just another day but its also a milestone on her journey, and maybe that makes it a good time to say  thank you .... for everything. All she's done, all she's given, all she's taught us- WE are the lucky ones, WE are blessed. So a very Happy Birthday to you, Anne Therese, our most favourite of matriarchs, a very special lady, the queen of Nanas, but most of all, our lovely Mammy. Xxxxx

Herself!