our blog

2

A Mother’s Story Told by Daughters

by Wendy Bradford

My girls, who are five and seven, found two little books in a bookcase that I was to fill out at some point. The books are similar, each is called A Mother’s Story, and they are meant to be keepsake journals, records from one generation to the next.

Being a procrastinator, a recorder on blogs and social media now more than in journals, I’ve left those little books alone. But the girls were happy to fill in the answers themselves, and as I went through the books with their unfinished statements, clearly meant to record and save a mother’s childhood and personal thoughts for her daughter(s), I laughed and was a little surprised at the places we intersect.

(I didn’t help them with these; I suspect they did them together as only one girl knows how to read well. I have corrected the spelling to spare you the hours of effort.)

Mother: Wendy
Daughter: Ellie

My favorite outfit to wear was….
My mommy bought me a stuffed bunny and she bought me a yoga mat.

My favorite subject in school was…
Art is the best.

My very best friend was…
Santa got me a Stuff Stuffy.

The person I looked up to the most was…
Luna. [Luna is a kindergartner.]

My first job was…
My babysitter bought a toy for me.

The most important lesson I ever learned was…
I love my mom.

The best advice anyone ever gave me…
You can’t say the word Die

Some of my goals were…
Ballet.

When you were a child, a typical day was…
When my kids hit me. [That is not a typical day.]

You made me laugh when…
When I did silly dances.

You surprise me most when…
When you wear a wig.

You remind me of myself when…
I was a baby.
___

Mother: Wendy
Daughter: Molly

My earliest childhood memory is….
My sister. She was a baby. She was sitting on my lap.

The happiest time in my childhood was…
When we went to Disney World.

As a child, people would describe me as…
A beautiful girl and sunshine sun.

When I was growing up, I wanted to become a…
Police woman because so I can help the world not get hurt and in trouble.

My most mischievous moment was…
When I was born.

When I was little, I liked to spend time…
With my family.

My favorite outfit to wear was…
A shirt and shorts or leggings or jeans or pants.

My favorite subject in school was…
Art and computer and music and library and Spanish.

The person I looked up to the most was…
Caroline. [Caroline is a second grader.]

My first job was…
Table cleaner.

The most important lesson I ever learned was…
Math.

The best advice anyone ever gave me…
You should always look both sides.

Some of my goals were…
Do a good job.

What I consider romantic…
Always make friends. [She asked me what “romantic” meant. I told her it meant what you like to do.]

How our family began…
I was born in my mommy’s tummy then my brother came along then my sister came along that is why my brother is a little bigger than my sister.

When I saw you for the first time…
I was so happy and surprised.

As a new mom, my biggest fear was…
Take care of my children.

After you were born, my life changed in lots of ways like…
Getting older.

When you were a child, a typical day was…
Getting born.

You remind me of myself when…
I was a baby.

The best advice to share about being a mother is…
Rules.

Inside my handbag, you’ll always find…
My life.

A family recipe I cherish…
We have Thanksgiving.

My idea of a perfect day is…
Thanksgiving.

A pet peeve of mine is…
Cat.

My wish for you in life…
Because I have someone to love.

2 comments: