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Minnesota Mom Blog | Humor | Parenting | Writing | Lifestyle|Fitness| Tracy Morrison

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I’ll never forget what my mom said to me when I told her that I was pregnant with Astrid “Oh my word that is funny – just think – when I was 39 both you are your brother were out of the house already and here you are at 40 and just having a baby. Oh thank God that wasn’t me!”

 

And then we both laughed hysterically. But really it was funny. All of it.

 

My mother and I really don’t have a lot in common. She’s short. I’m not. She’s the oldest of seven and loves all babies. I’m the youngest of two and only like my own babies. She cannot bake. I can. She thinks Monet is just a costume jewelry brand. I know he’s more than that. She loves short hair. I love long hair.  She worked outside of the home. I stay home. She irons. I own an iron. Maybe. She bought it for me. It stays in the box until she visits.  She likes small towns. I like big cities. She had her babies in her early 20’s. I did not.

 

The list goes on.

 

Which is probably why she’s my best friend. It’s also probably why I was a complete asshole to her during my high school years.  But why, by the time I was 20, I realized what an amazing women she is and I’m glad I got to know her again – as a person and a woman rather than just as a mother.  Because she’s so much more.

 

And if I hadn’t stepped back in I would’ve missed a whole lot of laughter.

 

Because if there’s one thing we have in common – it’s our sense of humor. My god my mother is funny. And most of all – she can laugh at herself. Oh can she laugh at herself.   Every week there is something we are giggling about on the phone. If I hear or want to share something funny – she’s the first person I call because I want to hear her laugh.

 

I hope I can teach this to my kids – to not take themselves so seriously because really humans are hilarious.

My mom sent me this email a few months ago…as a prime example of her self-deprecation…

OMG let me tell you about making rice krispie treats:  I REALLY NEED TO DO A COOKING AND BAKING SHOW:)

Sunday I thought to myself – I have marshmallows and rice krispies, I think I’ll make some bars.  That WAS MY FIRST MISTAKE!
I took out my glass bowl, the butter and the marshmallows.  Then I figured I could put them in the microwave to melt them faster – right????  Have you ever put a peep in the microwave?  OMG these things were huge and of course going over the bowl.  I stopped the microwave and took out a pan for the stove – do you know that once you have nuked the hell out of marshmallows you CAN NOT melt them in a pan?  Those things become tough balls of goo!  After bouncing them around in the pans for what seemed FOREVER – I concluded that all the mushing, stuffing, bouncing and piercing was not going to work.  As is common with my attempting to bake I walked over to the garbage – oh yeah – and dumped them in the trash.  This truly had me laughing remembering how 38 years ago I tried making these things for a cookie exchange after my “real cookies” also didn’t turn out.  Although I didn’t have a microwave back then once I put them in the pan and they set I couldn’t get them out of the pan or cut them!  It all went in the trash.  So what have I learned from this?  I  know that I will not live another 38 years to ever attempt this again!  Thanks for the recipe though:)

 

And you’ve read her thoughts on the iPad.

 

I love her for these things. For her beautiful imperfections. For her beautiful laugh. For her big hugs that come from her tiny body. For her unending kindness and laughter.

 

I don’t need a mom to remember who wore a crisp apron, or baked the perfect cookie, or laid out the perfect table. I don’t need a mother who made my beds, or kept the perfect garden, or always had fresh flowers on the table.  I don’t think kids care about that stuff. Kids care about the quality time you spend, the hugs you give, the love you share, and the laughter that fills a house with joy.

 

Which makes my mother just about perfect(except for the short hair thing).

 

Happy Birthday, Mom. I’m so lucky that you’re mine.

About Tracy


My name is Tracy Morrison and I live in sunny Minnesota. I'm neither British nor a nun - I'm just a Midwesterner with a headache. This is mainly a humor and lifestyle blog that documents the lighter side of parenting. I am an ex-corporate ladder climber turned freelance writer, social media manager, world traveler, and marathon runner. I would love for you to contact me at tracy@sellabitmum.com

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Comments

  1. I knew when I clicked over this would be a gorgeous post.

    It is.

    I wish this for you, dear lady: that your daughters write of you in this way.

    Happy birthday, T’s mom. You are both so very, very blessed with what you have.

    (I hope your mom reads this, T, a priceless gift)
    Alexandra recently posted..Awesome Drawings

  3. Good golly I love your honesty and humor. And I’m certain I’d love your mom. You are so lucky for this relationship!

  5. I think I could really like this woman. Oh wait, it’s about me:) ahhhhh tears in my eyes for the wonderful words. You have no idea what it meant for me that you became my friend. It’s fun to hear you talk about sense of humor because I love to laugh:) And I love to make others laugh, which is mostly stuff about me:) When something funny happened in my life I used to call my Mother just to hear her laugh – she laughed so hard I knew she was peeing her pants! I always know you will appreciate silly stories. Yup turned 65 today – the medicare year! Thank you for the wonderful words – that is the best gift ever. Thanks to those also wishing me a happy day. Love you, Mom

    • I think they are totally the same person. OMG now we cannot marry because we’re siblings. Damn.

    • Oh I think it’s very true. You’re an incredible mom. (and I forgot almost everything..just ask my kids)

  14. Happiest of Birthdays Ginny !!! AND they sell pre-packaged rice krispie treats over at “The Kroger’s” lol…

    Stacey

  17. Your post was a lovely reminder of the kind of person my mother was. We were very different too and I put her through hell as a teen and even while in college – as did my six younger siblings. But she was tough and boy was she funny. She was a terrible cook too. She once put american cheese on many slices of white bread and stuck it under the broiler for dinner. We all watched as these giant pillows of cheese grew and grew and then turn black. When she pulled them out of the oven (with cigarette in mouth) and placed them on the counter, we waited and wondered if she was seriously going to make us eat them. Then she just laughed out loud – we cracked up with her and enjoyed cereal for dinner. Anyway, she’s been gone for more than 12 years and your wonderful post for your mother’s birthday was such a great reminder of some good and funny memories. Thank you!

    • Oh Mary – what a wonderful memory(and I love the cigarette). A family needs to be able to laugh together. So beautiful. xo

  21. such a sweet tribute! she’s just as lucky to have a daughter that will laugh right along with her!

  22. I’ve been pondering all the differences that we have all week long . Seeing it in writing brought it home and I have one question – are you SURE you are my daughter?

  24. Aaw! Happy Birthday! You can tell your mom that I CAN cook, and yet when I went to soften the butter in the microwave, the innocuous paper – which seriously looks more like paper than the foil wrapped butter in the States – started sparking and actually caught on fire.

    So cooking is not just about filling the belly – it’s also about having stories to tell.
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