MAMA MILLIE MOMENTS#2

As, mentioned before my mother came from Europe as a WW II war bride. Mother was a maid at the age of 14. This background started everything. I, think that mother had some obsessive compulsive behavior. With any task, she would go overboard in completing that task. HOUSEWORK was one of her issues. On every Friday, she would start cleaning the house at 4 a.m.She would never use a mop, but get on her hands and knees to wash the kitchen and bathroom floors. I, DIDN'T LIKE Fridays, because you could hear the sound of the vacuum cleaner at 6 a.m. There was no way of convincing mother to change this behavior. If she wasn't finished with the cleaning by noon, she would say"I'm late". I, could never figure out what late meant. She didn't have any appointments nor or special TV program she wanted to watch. Mother continued in this manner until she "slowed down", in her 70's. My father died in 1986. At that time, my 1st. husband and I were concerned about mother's emotional state. She had depended upon Dad. We suggested she stay for awhile until she could decide what she wanted to do with her life and home. I, swear we didn't mean for her to permanently move in with us. But, guess what,she did and I DIDN'T HAVE THE HEART TO TELL HER NO. Mother remained living with me from 1986 until 2006, when she died while receiving Hospice services in my home. Mother, had the pleasure of living with 2 son-in-laws. Thank goodness, I MARRIED MEN WHO WERE WILLING AND UNDERSTOOD FAMILY TIES. in 1991, my 1st. husband was killed immediately in a car accident that included myself and my mother. Mother had bruises, I had a broken right foot ankle as well as a broken pinkie finger on my left hand. I couldn't manipulate using crutches so I had to use a wheelchair. It was a blessing that mother was in my home. She jumped right in and became my caretaker helping me with getting on the pot, bathe times, getting dressed, as well as driving me to medical and physical therapy appointments. This lasted for 3 months. During this time, we became each others counselors dealing with my husband's death. In 1999, I remarried. Gerry, is from Ireland. He understood family loyalties, so there was no question of mother not remaining in our home. It was a blessing for her to live with us as we became her caretakers and I Could give back to mother as she had especially done when we had the car accident. Because of this situation, Hospice offered services in our home, although for only over a month before she died. We never had to place mother in a nursing home, which was always a fear my mother always expressed. I promised her I would never do that placement, but do admit that taking care of an elderly parent was draining. Mother taught me the importance of family and responsibility. She often took the credit for me having a long term (34 years) career as a social worker. She was right! Each week, I plan to share about Mama Millie until I can't think and write. Stay tuned for more stories. Is there someone in your life that has made a significant impact on your life, IF SO, WHO,WHY?



How blessed we are to have that special someone. It's my mother.
She traveled from afar, to an unknown country.
Determined to learn to be a wife and a parent.
She had no teacher, made some mistakes, but learned.
No payment was expected for her role except Respect and Love.
To my special someone. Thanks, Mom.
Love rose marie