by Teresa Feil

Created on: June 15, 2008   Last Updated: October 31, 2008

MOTHERS AND DAUGHTERS

It seems to happen overnight. Your Mother is the strong one, the one that you run too, and then suddenly it is you that she is running too. She was the one to meet your every need, now it is she that needs you to give her strength and guidance.

Mom and I have a beautiful relationship. We have always been close and have shared our hopes and dreams. In times of trouble we know the other will be there to run too. I cannot remember a day that we have not spoken, if nothing else at least by phone.

My Mom is 75 years old now and I am 54. When I was still young and in school, she worked as a secretary at the grade school I attended. It was comforting to know that she was just around the corner, and always available. I remember being a very emotional person, who I am sure, drove my Mother crazy. But young females and some older females just seem to be that way. As a teenager, there were fights and tears almost daily. I would run to the safety of my Mothers arms and pour out my heart to her there in her office. I can still picture her as she listened patiently to my story. With a gentle hug and sometimes a Tylenol, she would send me on my way. As I look back now I believe the Tylenol may have been for her!

Years went by and, now she worked late hours to make my first prom dress. We didn't have a lot, but we were not poor by any means. Our home was filled with love and everything that my brother and I every wished for. Mom made most of my clothes and they were beautiful. She did the repairs on the furniture, as it needed it. She taught me how to reupholster furniture since the material was cheaper than buying something new.
Every summer, she and I would take one room in the house and totally redo the room. I learned a lot from her. Our skills were minimal but they accomplished the task at hand.

When I graduated and left home to go to school, I would drive home at least every other weekend. Mom always had a big bag of groceries for me to take back. I grew to anticipate the surprise she would leave in the bottom of the bag for me. I never knew what it was like to do without. Mom struggled to make ends meet and to always give my brother and me all the love we could stand.

Mom was with me the day my second child was born. I had a little two-year-old girl and my husband had left for work in another town. It was Saturday and Mom was at the beauty shop getting her hair done. When I called and said that I needed to go to the hospital, she flew to the house to

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