Friday
May072010
Interview: A Q&A With My Mom
Friday, May 7, 2010 at 04:23PM
I interviewed my mom for the May issue's Editor's Note. Here's the complete Q&A with Cora, the undisputed queen of our clan:
I know you are cute,
I know you are funny.
I know you are sweet,
You're a lot like your mummy.
My mom scribbled that little rhyme to me in an autograph book back in my grade-school days, and it makes me smile to this day. Even though these days we live almost 800 miles apart and both of us lead busy lives, she still manages to help me along on this parenting journey, often with incredible wisdom, always with calm and patience, and usually with her trademark wit.
I thought I'd share a bit of her wisdom and humor by conducting a brief Q&A with my mom, who raised three girls and is a grandparent to one young woman (my mom won't let me reveal my niece's age), a 9-year-old girl and a 5-year-old boy.
Why is being a mom so difficult?
Because you have kids. That's what's wrong with this country.
Do you think we moms make raising kids more difficult, or is that our kids' faults?
Of course it's the kids.
Do you think being a mom is fun? Why or why not?
Yes, it's fun just thinking about them knowing that I am still the boss.
No, wait - some of them think they are on a pedestal, too.
What would you consider to be a few of your mothering "mistakes"?
I wish I had not thrown your pinwheel out the car window over the golf course.
I wish I had known that children who put kitties in the refrigerator needed more supervision.
I wish I had kept a closer eye on the kids' dog, before she ate 20 boxes of Camp Fire Girl candy.
I wish I had played more Monopoly with them, rather than finding out that the kids where throwing tomatoes at someone's white convertible passing by on the street.
I wish I had visited the school more so my daughter would not have gotten sent to the principal's office for throwing dirt clods with a boy (Editor's note: That wasn't me).
I wish I had not taken the caramel apples for a Halloween party to Carolyn's class in a Coor's beer box.
What would you consider to be your shining moments as a mom?
When Carolyn earned the top prize for candy sales (thanks, dog).
I did go on a lot of trips with the marching band, against her wishes. You are welcome.
Encouraged the kids to go to college.
Took them on summer vacations to California, Oregon, Texas, Florida, Colorado, Arizona, Wyoming, Bahamas, Mexico and oh, yeah, Las Vegas.
And I sold real estate, all while being a mom.
Whew! I am tired.
What makes a great Mother's Day in your mind?
Having all three of my girls and grandchildren together. If they cannot come, a nice gift will suffice.
Why was Carolyn your favorite child?
Because she is just like me.
Thanks, Mom, and Happy Mother's Day to you and all the moms out there! (Your gift is in the mail.)
I know you are cute,
I know you are funny.
I know you are sweet,
You're a lot like your mummy.
My mom scribbled that little rhyme to me in an autograph book back in my grade-school days, and it makes me smile to this day. Even though these days we live almost 800 miles apart and both of us lead busy lives, she still manages to help me along on this parenting journey, often with incredible wisdom, always with calm and patience, and usually with her trademark wit.
I thought I'd share a bit of her wisdom and humor by conducting a brief Q&A with my mom, who raised three girls and is a grandparent to one young woman (my mom won't let me reveal my niece's age), a 9-year-old girl and a 5-year-old boy.
Why is being a mom so difficult?
Because you have kids. That's what's wrong with this country.
Do you think we moms make raising kids more difficult, or is that our kids' faults?
Of course it's the kids.
Do you think being a mom is fun? Why or why not?
Yes, it's fun just thinking about them knowing that I am still the boss.
No, wait - some of them think they are on a pedestal, too.
What would you consider to be a few of your mothering "mistakes"?
I wish I had not thrown your pinwheel out the car window over the golf course.
I wish I had known that children who put kitties in the refrigerator needed more supervision.
I wish I had kept a closer eye on the kids' dog, before she ate 20 boxes of Camp Fire Girl candy.
I wish I had played more Monopoly with them, rather than finding out that the kids where throwing tomatoes at someone's white convertible passing by on the street.
I wish I had visited the school more so my daughter would not have gotten sent to the principal's office for throwing dirt clods with a boy (Editor's note: That wasn't me).
I wish I had not taken the caramel apples for a Halloween party to Carolyn's class in a Coor's beer box.
What would you consider to be your shining moments as a mom?
When Carolyn earned the top prize for candy sales (thanks, dog).
I did go on a lot of trips with the marching band, against her wishes. You are welcome.
Encouraged the kids to go to college.
Took them on summer vacations to California, Oregon, Texas, Florida, Colorado, Arizona, Wyoming, Bahamas, Mexico and oh, yeah, Las Vegas.
And I sold real estate, all while being a mom.
Whew! I am tired.
What makes a great Mother's Day in your mind?
Having all three of my girls and grandchildren together. If they cannot come, a nice gift will suffice.
Why was Carolyn your favorite child?
Because she is just like me.
Thanks, Mom, and Happy Mother's Day to you and all the moms out there! (Your gift is in the mail.)
tagged Mother's Day, mothers, parenting in Interviews, Kid Management, Mom Stuff
Mother's Day, mothers, parenting in Interviews, Kid Management, Mom Stuff
Reader Comments (3)
What a wonderful interview! This lady is has the most wonderful sense of humor, sense of mothering, and sense of family of anyone I know. She's a role model to aspire to for so many of us who are still trying to be like her!
It's so great to see Carolyn doing all the same multi-tasking things her mom did - all while raising a family - all with the same grace!
Love you all!
Your favorite cousin & niece,
Laurie Battiston
It was a fun read. It is always interesting to hear our moms prospective of mother hood now that we are adults. It is funny to hear the stories of things we had done. Our own children have done many of the same things. Imagine that?
Happy Mothers' Day to Cora and Carolyn.
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