Yesterday my Mother turned 80. Now that she lives in Texas, I called and we spoke for a bit. I was glad one of my brothers was there to celebrate the occasion with her and my youngest sisters. In fact, Mom and my brother went to the gun range to do a little target shooting.

It got me thinking about what I’ve learned from using my mother as my role model. Many things too numerous to count.

First, let me give you a family overview: I am the oldest of my mother’s seven children. The youngest is 18 years younger than I. There are three boys and four girls, so I feel it’s safe to declare for all sisters everywhere – Girls Rule and Boys Drool!

From an early age I knew my mother was a nurse – in the days of nurses wearing starched white caps and dresses. When she washed her cap, it was unfolded and after she applied the starch, she would spread it out, smoothing it as she went – on the (avocado green) refrigerator door. Many times it had to compete for space with all the colorful alphabet and numbers magnets that took up residence there as well.

Working nights, my mother was with us in the morning and after school. In those days, a family usually had one car.  My Dad would wake me up and tell me he was leaving to take her to work. You could say I started babysitting at the age of eight.

Sometime about the age of 11, my mother started working days in the surgical department. And our lives changed. My grandmother (her mother) would arrive in the morning to see us fed and off to school and have home baked treats after school. We also had lunch at home in those days because school was only three blocks away. She did all this after working the night shift in a factory.

So the first thing I learned from both these ladies was the ability to do a little with little sleep. There’s also nothing like doing laundry on a wringer washer. It make take a good of your day, but the clothes are washed as long as YOU want, not a specified cycle. I learned what it took to raise a large family and how to love. I inherited the reading gene from them and am ever so thankful for that.

A few years ago, I had the opportunity to travel with Mom and the two younger sisters to Ireland. Her knee wasn’t a fan of the trip, but we laughed and enjoyed our time together. I also learned that my mother and I are not high maintenance in the morning like my younger sisters. You know it’s a very special day if either one of us is wearing makeup. Those two sisters don’t leave the house without it.

Now that I am empty nester, I watch my mother from several states away continuing to explore and make the most of her life. She volunteers as a tour guide at one of the missions in San Antonio and attends the community college expanding her mind and life’s experiences. She also gets to enjoy a grandchild everyday living with sibling number seven. It’s a genuine treat for both of them.

I’ve learned to be myself – to use my vocal chords whether it’s to sing off key really loud or express my pleasure or disdain. From her, I know to never stand still or let my mind turn to mush. And I’m ever grateful she is around to continue being my role model.

Thanks Mom!

P.S. Happy birthday!