I didn’t plan to write anything today. As
far as I was concerned, my blog could sit by itself for the weekend: images
selected, text published, some musings on chilly temperatures and big coats
enough to sustain the site for a while. But as I lay in bed this morning,
contemplating which was more pressing – further snoozing, or making myself a
massive breakfast (hard life, I know) – I began thinking about mother’s day.
I’m still negotiating the strangeness of
not being with my family for these kinds of celebrations. Independence fits
with an easy comfort, and I enjoy having my own, separate life for a portion of
the year. Right now though I’m anticipating the next holiday interlude back at
home, or, rather, back at my original home. It’s not the only one now. Oxford
feels more and more like ‘my’ city as the months wind by.
What am I looking forward to back among the
hills though? Big meals, laughter, walks, bickering, hanging out clutching mugs of coffee, conversations over wine, charity shop trips, creative ideas, sustained
projects, a little bit of nurture. The freeing feeling of not being responsible all the time. Being able to have
loooooooong, meandering chats with my mum without having to pick up the phone
(which, admittedly, I do all the time here). Spending time in the presence of a
close-knit family that I’m overwhelmingly privileged to have, and to be loved
by. Access to my full wardrobe probably figures somewhere in there too…
All of this floated through my head as I
snuggled under my duvet earlier. I realized that today, of all days, it would
be fitting to write about my mum – create some little essay for that intelligent,
resilient, witty, empathetic woman.
But rather surprisingly (for me), I have no
idea where to begin or what to focus in on - mainly because the field of
possibility stretches far beyond view…
I could discuss our shared adoration of
vintage dresses and jumble sales, unwrapping the significance of my style
heritage and nodding to the power of second hand silk shirts. I could plait
together choice anecdotes about her side of the family, discussing each successive
generation of mother and daughter – all quiet frustration and flashes of love. I
could distill down the tale of how she met my dad, the meeting of the
performance poet (him) with the teacher (her) – and how they married after
knowing each other for less than a year. I could skim over the challenges my
mum has faced: the bereavements, tricky situations, and family illnesses, both
physical and mental, that required her to be so very strong in looking after
others. And I don’t mean the ‘2D-female-stock-character-on-a-TV-show’ version
of ‘strong’, but rather something veined with resilience and true tenacity.
Oh, and I could also relay the irritation/ absolute brilliance of having a mother whose editing skills are second to none, sharp
eyes trained on extraneous words and grammatical errors (hi Mum! Am sure you’re
going to tell me to correct some of these sentences when you see this!)
Any one of those is an outline that might
be worked up into a full picture. But, maybe, actually, this is enough. Rather
than expanding any further, I’m going to condense it down - leave this on a
quiet note of appreciation. My mum is a fabulous lady. Truly fabulous. I’m
lucky to have her. Not everyone has access to stable or supportive parents –
and for some, mother’s day is not a time for merriment, but pain and weariness.
That makes my heart ache.
For that reason, I’m not going to finish by saying a
general Happy Mother’s Day – because it’s not universally applicable, and this Sunday will be different for everyone (besides, it's only a UK-wide thing). But
I do want to say it specifically to my mum. Happy Mother’s Day, Polly. You’re
ace – and I've got a rather gorgeous seventies coffee pot waiting for you…
I took these photos of my mum in 2013 – when I was still living at home permanently. We tramped up to the bluebell wood behind our house, her resplendent in this glorious green dress. The light was extraordinary. Time always feels suspended when you’re standing among those trees. Nice to capture a snatch of that serenity on camera, and to be able to share it nearly two years later.
13 comments
Oh this is so beautifully written! A little overwhelmed and made me quite teary eyed. Your mum seems absolutely wonderful xx
Yep, our Mother's Day is a ways away, but luckily I'm close enough to my parents house that I can go celebrate and make my Mom breakfast like we used to when we were little.
Such a great essay as well. I'm in a similar camp with you, very close-knit family (actually going to my Grandmothers - next door - in a few hours to spend time with the family) and my Mom and I are close
http://www.closet-fashionista.com
Well done! The photographs you took of your mother are utterly beautiful...and the text is so warm and special...one of those that warm one's heart.
I must also take notice of her fabulous looks (and outfit). Absolutely fabulous feels like a proper phrase to me:).
your mother is so beautiful and these pics amazing...good job
kisses
Your writing is always so powerful, I've gathered a real sense of your mum from this piece and she sounds wonderful! It seems like you have a great relationship with her, and those photos are brilliant!
Hannah x
Hanniemc.co.uk
How lucky your Mum is to have her daughter love, appreciate and respect her as you do.
I wish that some of us mothers could know what that feels like - sadly I don't.
Can't believe you didn't share these pictures earlier! They are gorgeous - the emerald of her dress and the green of the plants juxtaposing each other beautifully! <3
Oh! And now we know where you got such awesome genes from! :)
Yes, your Mum is a stunner and a lovely person to boot! What a lovely tribute. xxx
Your mum reminds me of Princess Merida from the Disney animated film Brave. I thought so the first time I saw her photos posted here as well. This is a lovely piece; I like how you have employed the unsaid things so powerfully.
I do not know your mother- but how I would like to! Your introductions of her- leave a yearning to meet this very beautiful and interesting looking woman. How strong she does seem, and what a lovely tribute you do her, not in just your warm words but in your very distillation of self: a smart, kind and truth seeking creature who must echo her own keen intelligence, kindness and quest for the true. Lovely mum and lovely daughter- thank you for sharing your mum with us- and thank you Roz's mother for giving us your dear and amazing girl!
What a beautiful ode to your mum! She is so beautiful too! I too am very close to my mum; I'm so grateful to have somebody I can telephone whenever I need a chat or bounce an idea off or just to hear a friendly voice. As you say not everyone does and it's easy to forget that. XX
I agree with many comments above, and although I do not know your mum personally, I am certain she is a gem. I loved reading about your mum, and she is striking and certainly must be a woman of wit and many talents--I'm sure she's very proud of you as you are of her.
Just glorious. You and your mom both. And you're both very lucky to have each other, too, I'd say. I hope my daughter feels just this way about me. Okay, wish I could say more, but it is getting late here, and I am CASHED as we yanks say :).
x
Izzy
www.TheMisadventuresofMe.com
(I haven't posted there in a while, but I'm going to try to start up again.)
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