Search here...
TOP
Inside Lifestyle Soul-Searching

Motherhood: A Thankless Task?

[dropcap]I[/dropcap] made some pastry the other day. I realise that’s not exactly a news-worthy headline but how to make good pastry (and a victoria sandwich for that matter) is something that my mum taught me from an early age.

She saw it as part of her role as a mother, to pass down those skills. For that I will always be grateful (as will my family I suspect!).

In fact there are many things I do now, that I have my mum to thank for. As children, my mum would take us to the library every week. I remember it being a highlight so did the same with my brood up until around 14 years of age. I now have a real love for reading and hope that one day my children will too (sadly they have reached that age where only a screen will do ?).

Perhaps more importantly, my mum demonstrated the value of a stay at home mum. I am sure there were days when the mind-numbing boredom of listening to toddler chatter became too much, but I would never have known.

All I saw was a mum who was there when we got home from school. A mum who would pick me up if I was ill. A mum who never missed a school play and would always offer to help out on school trips (much to my despair as I got older!).

I know that not everyone has the choice to stay at home with their children but my mum showed me that it was a worthwhile job. So much so that when it came to my turn at motherhood, I never considered doing otherwise.

As today is Mother’s Day, I thought it would be lovely to hear from some other bloggers on the one thing that they are grateful to their mums for.

Bonita from Mama’s VIB:

“I will always be grateful to my mother for making me write and send thank you cards. It’s something I have done after every birthday/Christmas since I was a child and now I make my 5 yr old daughter do it too. Especially in the digital world we live in, I think a handwritten/posted note or card can mean so much. I know they meant the world to my late grandmother.”

Kate from The Less-Refined Mind:

“I’ll always be thankful to my mum for teaching me the value of money, to only spend what I have AND can afford. It’s made me very careful with my finances – to the point of being a bit boring probably. But it means we have savings, and our only debt is our mortgage. She’s done *such* a good job that the thought of being in any other position makes me genuinely anxious!”

Hayley from Devon Mama:

I’ll always be grateful to my mum for teaching me the importance of keeping up with family. She rang her mum and her sister every day of my childhood, just for a quick catch up. At the time I could never understand it, until I went to uni and she added me to the daily list. Even now we speak every day and I try to do the same with my siblings (although that’s more by text!), it’s lovely having that catch up with them even if it’s only for a couple of minutes – my favourite part of the day.

Michaela from Adventure of a Yorkshire Mum:

How to make Yorkshire puddings. It might be the only one thing I’m really good at, but I make every Yorkshire-person proud with my puds!”

Natasha from Mummy and Moose:

“My mum taught me that mums aren’t perfect. She had a breakdown when she was not much older than I am now and it has taught my siblings and I about the importance of supporting each other and that it’s ok to not be ok.”

Mel from Le Coin de Mel: 

“I will always be thankful to my mum for giving me siblings. The first 9 years of my life were so boring and monotonous, then I had brothers and they were the best gift my mum could have given me.

Emma from Bubba Blue and Me:

“My mum taught me that women can be independent, and that you can give your children the best possible with so little and without spoiling them. My dad died when my brother was 2 weeks old and I was 3 years, and she never met anyone else. So she did everything, and how she managed to pay for all our clubs and hobbies, days trips and even my private 6th form, with the money she had, I have no idea. She died 4 years ago.”

Nisbah from Five Adventurers:

“I will always be thankful for my mum teaching me to be proud in my own skin and embracing being different. She would be the only Asian mum in an Asian outfit who would come into church to see me perform in assemblies and the choir!”

Sophie from Wife Mother Life:

“I’ll always be thankful to my mum for teaching me the importance of loving the unlikeable. She would always say you don’t have to like each other but it’s important to love them anyway, you might be the only person to show them love thatday. It’s stuck, and is something I have endeavoured to pass on to my own children.”

Laura from Dear Bear and Beany:

“I’ll always be thankful that my mum taught me to sew. I can pop a button on when the girls pull them off. Sew up a hole in a much loved top and not have tears.”

Louise from Pink, Pear Bear:

“I’ll always be thankful to my Mum for teaching me the art of really listening to someone. She never judges and is so kind and just listens to you until you’ve finished talking it’s a wonderful skill to have and I try very hard to emulate it.”

Some small life skills being handed down. Some life-changing habits. All of which will inevitably be passed on to future generations. Motherhood, what a powerful thing to be a part of. A thankless task? I don’t think so!

What’s the one thing that YOU will always be grateful to your mum for? 

Inside, Outside & Beyond

«

»

12 COMMENTS

  • What a lovely post. Some great advice from all of the mums, but I am most in awe of Emma from Bubbablue’s mum. Being a parent is exhausting, time-consuming and expensive, so have done it all alone for her kids’ entire life is incredible.
    My mum just taught me to always put the kids first. I know that’s not a very fashionable view these days, with everyone talking about the value of looking after yourself so you can look after the kids, but I am unable to do that. I do everything for my kids, just as my mum did for us (although I draw the line at sharing a piece of food with my husband because everything comes in packs of four, which is what my mum and dad always did!).

    • Emma T

      Thanks Sarah. She was a star.

      I would never be allowed to share with my OH. He’s the one who eats the 4th portion in our house, or I share with N.

  • Emma T

    Thanks for including my comment Suzanne. I think it’s great to celebrate and share these – because mums are so important in our lives, however the relationships turn out.

    • Suzanne W
      AUTHOR

      Yes it’s good to reflect back on remember all the stuff that was instilled in us, isn’t it? xx

  • Nellie

    Best thing mum ever did was teach us hiow to pack! We had everything in our trunk and one piece of hand luggage, nothing got lost I’ve not passed this onto my lot who drag out everything!

  • Mel

    This is such a beautiful post, Suzanne, so full of gratitude and little things that make all the difference. x

    • Suzanne W
      AUTHOR

      Isn’t it? I think it made for a lovely read in the end. Thank you for your contribution 🙂 xx

  • This is such a lovely post Suzanne. There are so many comments that I can relate to in lots of ways. There are so many things I’m grateful to my Mum for – I don’t think I could narrow it down to just one!

  • Jo - Not A Frumpy Mum

    Such a lovely post Suzanne. My mum has always worked but her and my dad somehow made it work so that someone was always at home with us. My mum worked evenings and my dad during the day, so I suppose I am grateful to both of them for always being there. xx

  • Kerri-Ann

    Aww what a lovely post Suzanne, I am so glad that you have such positive memories and a strong mother figure. Sadly I cannot say the same x

  • Morgana

    Such a beautiful post full of little legacies from mums. x

  • Ah what a lovely read!!! My mum was a stay at home mum, she gave up her nursing career (which she loved) when I was born and I’ll always be thankful that she was there for me every day. She’s now my very best friend and we talk every day on FaceTime. That’s the kind of mum I want to be/ hope I am to my girls too.

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

FIND ME ON INSTAGRAM

[instagram-feed]