Sarah Nigbor

I was inspired when I read this week’s Woodworking Again (see the column next door to mine). Ruth, Dave’s wife, wrote the column this week, acknowledging all her mother taught her, though she might not have appreciated it at the time. I can relate.

I too grew up in a household with a single mother. My dad died when I was 2, so it was Mom and I against the world. We lived with my grandparents for about a decade and I was blessed to have them help raise me. In essence, I had three parents who loved me very much.

I wish I could go back and smack my teenage self upside the head for how sassy I was to my mom sometimes. I thought I knew everything and loved the chance to prove it. I am going through the same thing right now with my own four children (payback?) and it’s not easy. Now I know why my mom went outside and sat in the garage sometimes. She needed a break or she’d break my neck. I’m more partial to hiding in the bathroom.

When I think of the things she did for me and the sacrifices she made, it makes me tear up. For much of my life, she worked two jobs to make ends meet. As a teen, I was on my own much of the time and books were my best company. When she was home, she’d often fall asleep in her rocking chair while watching TV. I always thought that was such as “old person” thing to do, as my grandmother did the same thing. Now I know it’s because she was exhausted from working so much. I helped out by doing the dishes and trying to clean the house, though I wasn’t always the best at it. I became a neat freak when I grew up, but not as a child.

My mother was always and still is my biggest cheerleader. I always joked I could commit the most heinous crime and she would blame someone else for it (not that I plan to do anything of the sort). “Well, they deserved it!” I could hear her saying. The unconditional love of a mother is priceless.

Now that I have my own daughter and three bonus boys, I understand how she kept going all those years when she must have been so tired all the time. As a parent, you will do whatever it takes to give your child(ren) a good life. I work two jobs now too so we can afford all the sports traveling and gear, food for four teens, etc. and I find myself almost nodding off once in a while in front of the TV. Actually, it usually occurs when I’m typing or waiting in the car for a kid at a sports practice. I don’t have time to watch TV.

My mom worked hard and was always cheerful while doing so. The woman to this day still can’t sit still and is always buzzing around like a little bee. It rubbed off on me, because I’m the same way. If I know something needs doing, I can’t sit still. It drives my husband crazy. “Just relax,” he tells me, but it’s impossible.

I may not have had designer clothes and all the latest gadgets growing up, but I had everything I needed. I learned the value of a dollar and how to budget. I’ll never forget when Mom let me get a class ring. I didn’t think we’d be able to afford it, and I’m sure she had to work overtime so I could. I still cherish it. Thank you, Mom. For everything.