Comments

Emily, don't feel guilty. Just tell your mother the things you just told us. You can tell her that I wish my mother had been like that. She was not loving; she blocked me from taking piano lessons; and she almost blocked me from taking violin lessons. Tell your mother that I wish her a happy birthday, too, and that I believe that she must be a good mother, too.

Do you want me to send you an email on Feb. 13 or 14 to remind you about Valentine's Day?

What a beautiful anecdote! It sounds like forgetting her birthday initially helped you to feel your connection to your mother more deeply. It certainly prompted me to remember my mother's love for me despite my extra-flakiness.

I too have an extra guilt gene. It's great that your mother is sensitive to that. Mine is as well- and it is such a relief.

Oh, Emily, that was so beautiful. What a visceral description of the memory - made me think of the same thing. ((My mom didn't play music, tho. She just listened to a Mantovani record that I'd just cringe to hear now.)) You perfectly described that timeless child's security. Very cool. Great little gift to Mom - send the anecdote to her, if you haven't already! Yeah, I sent it to her first. Had to make sure she had some tears of her own, after what she did to me. :)

Thanks for the compliment, Terez.