Mothers Day – A day we celebrate and give thanks to the woman/women in our life who have in many circumstances had more to do with who we are than any other individual.

For those of us who are mothers it’s also a day we reflect on how we feel we have done as mothers. Did we say the right things, teach the right lessons? How much of what we said and did really had an impact on our children?

I don’t know about everyone but I know my mom, Carolyn Parker, has had a profound effect upon who I am today. And I am thankful and grateful for her love and sacrifices over the years.

My mom was a young bride, 16 years old, and she had me at 17, just a child herself. My brothers and sisters quickly followed along, bringing the total to six. Three girls and three boys.

As if my mom didn’t have enough to do with her own brood, she also raised my cousin Debbie Sue from the time she was five. We didn’t have a lot of money, but I don’t know that we ever went without any of the things that were important in life. We were taught to work hard, we were loved and we were pushed and encouraged to follow our dreams. Life wasn’t perfect but we sure had some fun times!

Somehow my mom managed to see that each of us kids got to participate in any activity in which we might have an interest.

Between the seven of us we tapdanced, sang in choir, played the guitar, piano, drums, saxophone, oboe and clarinet. There was swim team, softball, baseball, soccer, karate, judo, girl scouts, boy scouts, wrestling, cheerleading, gymnastics, plays, skateboarding, baton twirling, camping, hiking, fishing… you name it, I think we did it. On a limited budget that is pretty impressive.

I was always an extrovert – wanting to be the star of the show, any show. Just give me a stage, an audience, any passerby paying attention and I was in my element. I loved to stand on my head, throw my self around and do cartwheels – everywhere!

Instead of getting annoyed with me, my mom decided gymnastics lessons were in order. She talked to the local YMCA and got me a special deal on lessons.

My mom spent hours in the family living room teaching me how to do a valdez. She wasn’t a coach, but I wanted to learn it so she talked to my coach and got some quick lessons. Sitting in our living room she had me sit with one leg outstretched in front of me, the other leg bent at the knee, with my foot on the floor. Then, placing one hand behind me on the floor and the other arm stretched out in front of the straight leg (the idea is to catch yourself when you launch backwards), I would push on the bent leg, throw my head back and up into the air, where hopefully I would flip over and my hand would land on the floor and by some miracle the rest of my body follow suit in one piece. We practiced until I got it.

The real lesson my mother taught me that day was that she believed in me, she knew I could do it if I tried and she would help me get there. In my mom’s eyes I could do anything I set my mind to.

Thank you for believing in me, mom, for giving me the courage to try things I was scared to do, for teaching me that if at first I didn’t succeed to try again. I’m blessed and thankful that you are my mother.

Betty Ramsey is the publisher of the Tryon Daily Bulletin. Her email address is betty.ramsey@tryondailybulletin.com.