Tell us about your mom.

[Muenkel 0]

I stole this idea from someone in the dad thread. I thought it was a good idea. Afterall, it's our moms who have to push our watermelon sized bodies through a normally fairly small hole.

I'll make mine fairly brief. My mom just turned 71 this month. She was an only child growing up and always wanted a large family...which she got (8 kids). When she gave birth to her 8th, her uterus ruptured and she lost 7 pints of blood in a very short time. Fortunately she survived. My mom is an incredible singer and had quite a nice career performing in NYC in her younger days. She gave it up to raise her family. She is the most comforting, caring person I know. Even though all of her kids are adults, we're in constant touch with her and we still need her as a mom. There is nothing I cannot tell her. One thing I am most grateful to her for is the fact that she has nursed me physically and emotionally since I was seriously injured 3 years ago. She is a devout Catholic and I can honestly say she has always practised what she preaches. There is not an ounce of hypocrisy in her. I can honestly not think of one thing that I could call her a hypocrite about. She is an awesome mom and I am truly blessed.
Chris

_________________________________________
Chris

[Zep 0]

Their just isn't enought bandwidth to tell you what muy mum means to me .
Suffice to say I love her with all my being.

Gone fishing

[Squeak 17]

my mum is 4000km away, but that's only because the land stopped otherwise it wold be further

You are not now, nor will you ever be, good enough to not die in this sport (Sparky)
My Life ROCKS!
How's yours doing?

[SkydiveStMarys 0]

My Mom is a very complex person due to being raised in a house with an Alcoholic/abusive father. This has "stifled" her in many ways. She quit school in the 9th grade and got married young. She doesn't show her emotions well and has a hard time telling people how she feels. With all of this said she is different when its comes to me, I don't know maybe it is because I live so far away, that when we do spend time together it is quality time and we try to fit as much activities into our schedule as possible. She is a caring grandmother to my kids and even though she will express her opinion to any one who will listen, and most times it is not the "right way" of going about it (she tends to get upset and spout off), she only want the best for everyone and anyone.

Bobbi

A miracle is not defined by an event. A miracle is defined by gratitude.

[micro 0]

if it weren't for my mom, i'd likely be dead from drugs or alcohol. she's the reason i'm clean and she's the reason i have any faith at all.

she's a saint.

I miss Lee.
And JP.
And Chris. And...

[NWFlyer 2]

My mom can be a total pain in the ass sometimes, but I do love the woman. She and my brother are very alike in temperament, my dad and I are very alike. That naturally leads to some interesting conflicts in the house, but my mom and I can usually end up understanding each other, it just takes a little longer.

My mom is incredibly bright and adventurous; she wasn't willing to accept the "path" laid out for her in her small town in the 50s (graduate high school, get a job for a couple years, settle down, get married, and pop out kids). When she finished high school, she moved to Manhattan, used her high school French skills to get a job as a bilingual secretary for a shipping firm, and lived "the life" in New York as a young woman.

She got a job working for the government, traveling and living all over - before she was even 25 she'd lived in El Salvador, Malaysia, the Phillipines (which is where my folks actually got married), and Cuba (and she was even there when we pulled out of Cuba and my mom's photo was on the cover of every newspaper in the country b/c the pic got picked up by AP and UPI).

When we lived abroad when I was a kid, mom would drag me and my brother EVERYWHERE possible. I got to go to all kinds of cool places that other parents might say "Oh, no, too unsafe for my kids." Mom decided it was more important for me to see places like Cyprus, and Turkey, and Israel because we had the opportunity to do it.

She always expected the best from me... and I knew when I wasn't performing up to my potential. She taught me the value of doing my best in whatever I did.

"There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." -P.J. O'Rourke

[masterrig 1]

My Mom, passed away, 10-yrs. ago and I think of her often. She was a good woman and had 'heart'! I miss her.


Chuck

[QuickDraw 0]

I have her description in my phone as 'Tireless Martyr'.

She was the person in the street who fixed her own cars (and later everyone else's)
and I mean fix them totaly stripping down engines/timing/bleeding brakes & even modding.
Took up welding at night school for 3 years and eventually had her own bottles welder and BOC account.

Raised me pretty much as a single parent (I'm an only child) and has her own paid in full house now.

I know she would love some grandchildren, but I think there is enough shit in the pool already.

If she was Russian, she would be a communist heroin & poster girl.

Nice post Chris.

-- Hope you don't die. --

I'm fucking winning

[windcatcher 0]

I absolutely love and adore my mother. She raised 5 kids on her own after her and my father divorced. She's worked HARD at her job for about 9 years I believe, never calling in sick and never trying to skip a day of work. She is one of my favorite people in the world; she makes me laugh.
Too bad all the love in the world isn't enough to convince someone how truly wonderful they are and how much you care about them, let alone convince them about the truth of who they really are.

Anyway, I could go on forever about my mum, but I'll stop there.

Mother to the cutest little thing in the world...

[Lastchance 0]

I can't say enough how much I love my mom. She is incredibly loving, caring and has always been there for me no matter what stupid things I did in my life. She loves me unconitionally and visa versa. and I tell her that I love her all the time. She knows it but likes to hear it I'm sure. When she sees that it is me calling she answeres the phone, Hello I love you. It always makes my day.

I may be getting old but I got to see all the cool bands.

[kbordson 8]

I love my mom GREATLY.

She's so sweet that she'll make your teeth sore just talking to her.

She gave me encouragement in life and I owe her so much for who I am.

Karen

[jimmytavino 16]

My Mom is really amazing.....

GREAT sense of humor,, laughs easily and in a way which is infectious.

3rd of 4 sisters, all with whom she speaks almost daily.
Raised 5 Kids. Reads voraciously, and REMEMBERS what she read...Smartest person I have ever personally known. each morning She bangs out the crossword puzzle in the NY Daily News, effortlessly...
Mom was on Jeopardy..... back in 1967...It was then shot at NBC studios in Rockefeller Plaza in NYC....Art Fleming was the host then, waaaay before Alex Trebek....
She won her first Game, and took 2nd place in the 2nd Game... Back then the clues were worth 10 to 50 dollars in jeopardy and 20 to 100 dollars in double J... she finished with 1,150 $$$$$ There were no VCR's at the time so Our dad went and purchased a 'polaroid land camera' and we took instant photos of the black and white TV screen on the days that the shows aired....At that time, all contestants took home whatever amount they won. She also earned a set of " the Comptons Pictured Encyclopedias" which still sit on a bookshelf in Her Home. Mom is a HUGE N Y Mets Fan, having been a baseball enthusiast since she was a child. She grew up in the Bronx, but never liked the Yanks...
She has always encouraged her 5 kids to pursue their dreams, and is very proud of her Skydiving Son...and of the accomplishments of each of her kids...
She and Dad still reside in the Home which our father Built in 1950, and have maintained and updated it, so that it is still in Excellent condition..... A devout catholic,,,, but with street sense, and bit of a wicked sense of humor...
She is "Mom" to us and "Aunt Nellie " to my 25 cousins as well as dozens and dozens of family friends. She is an "example setter" and Loved by scores of people..
She was COOL before "cool was cool".......
..............and OH YES,,,, (jeeze i almost FORGOT ...) She can COOK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!.. Mama mia !!!! Can she cook!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
jpegs attached.... Mom & Dad on the occasion of her grandson's HS Graduation and Mom with 4 of her 5 kids, on My Frist day of Kindergarten, ( i'm the sporty looking Dude wearing the shirt and tie. hahahahahaha )
jimmy

[valjumps46 0]

Apparnetly i"m the only one here who has a shitty mom. I moved out of the house when i was 16 and in tenth grade of high school to get away from getting the crap beaten out of me from my mom or asshole step dad.

I'm 21 now and busting my ass to survive and pay rent.


Hey if it wasn't for her I wouldn't have a perfect example of how NOT to raise kids. So for that i thank her.

"I'm going to marry my novels and have short stories for children."

BLuE sKiES & aPpLE PIeS oh and I'm "M" A-ZIng

[Muenkel 0]

Quote

Mom is a HUGE N Y Mets Fan

Hey Jimmy,

That there makes me love your mom! She must be excited this year. Whadda you think, another subway series?

Chris

_________________________________________
Chris

[hooked 0]

I love reading most of these posts. My parents divorced when I was quite young. I really don't have any childhood memories of her. My Father got custody of their 4 daughters and moved us all out of state. I never saw or heard from my Mother until, after she remarried and one of her daughters turned 16 and she came out to visit all of us. After that, one of my sisters kept in contact with her, so we did get to see her once in a while, and kind of became close. It's a hard feeling, to know someone is your Mother, but those motherly feelings aren't there. I didn't 'know' her as my Mother. I always wondered, but never asked, why she never kept in touch. It wasn't my Dad that would have prohibited her from seeing us. I would have loved to have a Mother to be close to. My stepmother was not someone you could get close to at all.

Chris, and everyone who has a loving Mother, you are very lucky. It sounds like you cherish your Mothers and that's the way it should be.

--------------------------------------
Sometimes we're just being Humans.....But we're always Human Beings.

[Orchid 0]

Mom will always be mom, I love my mom dearly and I'll always will. However, we have this love hate relationship that I could not live with.

My mom - a very controlling mom, a very angry person, she used to beat me black & blue when she's mad at my dad. So I moved out when I was 18. Even now, knowing that she couldn't hit me anymore.......so she turned verbally abusive.

"Love is doing small things with great love."

Lacrosse: Legally beating men with sticks since 1492

[jimmytavino 16]

I am shaken to reality as i read this thread...
I believe strength comes from overcoming adversity .
Poor parenting is not a recent phenomenon, we just hear about it more, and those who made it through that are the better for it.
Unjustified hitting by a parent due to troubles elsewhere in their lives and inflicted on a child is Unacceptable...but sadly it happens all too often..
Mothers are good bad effective and sadly, sometimes flat out failures. The important person here is the child who often is forced to make the jump the into adulthood and self support while still in their teens..
..and Bravo when that person accomplishes it. Love and closeness and maybe the things that were missing so far, or inadequately provided to you,,,.....Will come to you now, in triple, as you continue on your lifes journey...

It's rough when a mother or father dies and goes to heaven, and it's real rough when a parent leaves, or 'just never was there ' . Kudos to the remaining parent and the child/children in question. I think you are the stronger for it.
Sometimes we get along with family and sometimes not. StepParenting is a whole other issue which can make or break a youngster... Life is complicated.
Still family of one kind or another and family including people by choice rather than chance, is a good thing. We all thrive when we are loved and when we are a part of something. I'm happy I found that in skydiving, in my work community, in my circle of friends,
in my own nuclear family and with my siblings and M & D.
Continued success to all here who carry on, despite a sad maternal history....
Those with Moms in Heaven should know that she likely has a direct line to the angels and looks out for her kids, regardless of any past disharmony,,,, moms can be that way..

skydive softly skydive often skydive with friends

jmy

[valjumps46 0]

Quote

Mom will always be mom, I love my mom dearly and I'll always will. However, we have this love hate relationship that I could not live with.

My mom - a very controlling mom, a very angry person, she used to beat me black & blue when she's mad at my dad. So I moved out when I was 18. Even now, knowing that she couldn't hit me anymore.......so she turned verbally abusive.

Hey. I moved out of my house when i was 16 and in tenth grade of high school. i had no money when i left and busted my ass paying rent and having nothing.

i remember not having 75 cents for a bagel.

I'm 21 now and better off with out such a negative abusive person. I'm sorry you got black and blue. My mom preferred the wooden spoon, belt as her weapon of choice.

but hey like i said for all of us that had bad moms' at least we know how NOt to raise children

"I'm going to marry my novels and have short stories for children."

BLuE sKiES & aPpLE PIeS oh and I'm "M" A-ZIng

[steveorino 7]

My mom was my inspiration. I'm way too much like her in so many ways. She died of cancer in 1983 at the age of 54 (I'm 51+). Her mom died of diabetes when she was only 18 months old. She was raised by her grandparents. She met my dad when he was stationed near her home town. I believe she met him at a skating rink. A few months later they were married. She raised three athletic, football loving boys. I remember her staying up late to hear my version of the game. Only later did I realize she couldn't sleep until I was safe at home.

She doted on her family. She waited on everyone at the table, rarely sitting down to eat with us. She preferred to cater to her guys. Our wives quickly broke us of that habit.

Mom, I miss you! You left this earth way too soon! I hope I made you proud. I look forward to seeing you again. How about them grandbabies of mine! They some cute kids, eh?

steveOrino

[skydivermom 0]

I just recently moved closer to my mom. I was about 4 hours away and now it's a 35 minute drive to her place. We are best friends, and can always find something to laugh about. I cherish our visits and long talks.

I absolutely believe part of the reason we are so close is because of my horrible childhood. Dad was an alcoholic and made all of our lives horrible. As bad as that was, I believe it was partly responsible for our wonderful relationship,

Yes, I really enjoy my mother.

Mrs. WaltAppel

All things work together for good to them that love God...Romans 8:28

[Jumpervint 0]

My mother had to quit school in the 3rd grade because of religious persecution. She married at 15 and had 7 kids by the time she was 26. She raised us fairly and with as much love as she could give. She loved my dad fiercely and despite financial struggles, raised all of us to be good people. There wasn’t a lot of money for extras, but we never went hungry and always had clean clothes and a warm house. She taught us what hard work meant and what the rewards for that are. She is very giving and generous, and I love her dearly. When my dad died 8 years ago, she wanted to die too; they were devoted to each other. They showed us how to love.

On August 20th, she made her first (and probably last) skydive. It was one of the coolest jumps I have ever made. She is one of my heroes.

. . . . .
"Make it hard again." Doc Ed

“A person needs a little madness, or else they never dare cut the rope and be free” Nikos Kazantzakis