Sunday 2 March 2008

March 2nd

"When you are a mother, you are never really alone in your thoughts. A mother always has to think twice, once for herself and once for her child."
Sophia Loren
Mum

Aunty Glad

Nan
A Mothering Sunday photo taken today.
********
A bit of a different one from me today.
Mother's Day has always been a day of mixed feelings for me.
My Mum died when I was 5 years old and I was sent to live
with an Aunt and Uncle in Devon leaving my brother and
sister to live in London with my Mum's mum.
Although she was not my Mum, I certainly came to love
my aunt like a mum, even secretly calling her Mum when
no one could hear me just to see how the word
sounded coming from my lips.
Unfortunately she died of breast cancer
when I was 10 years old. I was totally devastated.
My other Nan, who was a widow, lived nearby so I went to live with her.
She was a wonderful lady and when I think back she
was very brave to take on the responsibilty of a 10 year old girl.
I know that at times I gave her grief especially as teenage
girl growing up in the 60's.
However, when I was 16 she died and I went through many
months of total depression. Another aunt who had her own family
allowed me to stay with them, nonetheless, she was my cousin's mum and not mine.
How sweet life was when I met and married Colin when I was 19.
We had our darling daughter Susannah 2 years later followed by
her adorable sister Julie just over 2 years later.
Mothering Sunday became something totally different to me.
I could say the word Mum or Mummy as often as I liked and
it was not strange or odd to do so!
How lucky am I now to still have two daughters who love me
to bits and a son in law who I think of as my own son.
Not to mention the light of all our lives my darling granddaughter
Abbie.

6 comments:

Minty Magic said...

What a beautiful journal entry. Very touching and moving.

knitkath said...

that's a sad but beautiful piece of journalling! So glad mothers day has a good meaning for you now!

Anne said...

That's a lovely entry, Shirley. No wonder Mother's Day is so special to you. What a beautiful photo of your Mum.

willowthewysp said...

Oh hun! That is so beautiful and so very touching.
Thankyou for sharing that with us:)

Curly said...

Shirley, it's so wonderful that you have the family you do now, you are a wonderful lady and so strong despite all you have been through.

Barbara said...

My word Shirley . what an unsettling childhood for you. Glad that things have turned out well for you now and you can enjoy Mothering Sunday. Great photos.