This is our last May “Tribute to Mamas” post from our beautiful SOAR! Scholarship Recipients. I hope you’ve enjoyed these reflective posts on the power of motherhood. I know I have! If you are a mama, I pray that you continue to feel celebrated, honored and appreciated.
Thank you Charisse, for this thoughtful, beautiful photographic essay. Great grandmas are special ladies. We are honored that you shared your family’s great grandma with all of us.
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Memories of Great Grandma by Charisse Rhodes
Often I find myself trying to see the world as she has seen it. Ninety-four years worth of change. Seven kids, eleven grand children, and eight great grand children later…she has seen it all. All of this while living in the same town which she was born in. It just plays with my mind. I remember being at my home where she flew 3000 miles across country for the first time ever to be with me after my first was born. And again with my second. As I was pulling out all of my “new fangeled remedies” as she often called them, she couldn’t understand us “modern” mothers. I mean, back in the day, they made a fulfilled life with so much less. So much less distraction, conveniences and amenities, yet we had all the love we could muster. The love of a community that watched out for all of us as though we were their own.
I see the joy of life in her eyes when she sees the youngest ones in our family. Often a little pep reappears in her step as while being assisted now by the extra 4 legs that support her. Both things giving her something to hold on to, each so necessary in their own way. Ensuring that I have these moments for myself, as well as my children, was one of the reasons photography pulls so heavily on my heart strings. It’s so powerful how they immortalize the proof of human life lived and loved.
The love of a mother, or someone who has loved you like a mother, is irreplaceable. I’ll venture to say that it is also indescribeable. But once you have had it, you will know it. And you will have been blessed. Often times we find ourselves needing to nurture some little urchins of our own. It is the multiplication of love now being passed through you to another innocent by your choice without their input. They are perfect for each of us. It is a feeling that, no matter how painful, tiring and nerve wrecking it can be, women around the world rise up to the challenge day after day after day.
The undeniable need to nurture something is derived from something deeper thank we know. It takes on the form of mothering our own, adopting another, caring for an elderly parent or a pet. It runs deep.
It’s wonderful to know that there is a national day where we have chosen to recognize the women who continuously keep our society moving forward through childbirth, nurturing, guiding and often providing. However, we need to be sure that gratitude and honor for these wonderful women are not left for one special day, but provided in some small way everyday they bless our lives.
But ladies, let’s not wait for the accolades of our loved ones. I implore you to take time and love on yourselves every day. Demonstrating our love for others without doing it for ourselves is the fastest way to feel overlooked and under appreciated. If you are not already doing it. Treat yourself today. I doesn’t need to be big. It may be a quiet cup o’joe, tucked off in the corner of your bedroom somewhere. Just do it. You will appreciate yourself more and so will your loved ones. It will make walking through the journeys of your life that much more pleasurable.
Also, if you can rally the crew, go snap a generational picture of your family this year. My family and I try to do it every few years. As my Nana gets older I find myself looking at this picture more and more often. The last few don’t include my nana because she hasn’t been able to make the trip in many years. It makes this image that much more special.
Oops….that reminds me…this one is nine years old. Clearly we are long overdue. This time we will go to her.
*Charisse
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Charisse, will you share the photo you capture of her? We would be so honored to see it. And I have to say that your hair was rocking it nine years ago! 🙂
To all of you reading, tell us one thing you love about your mom or motherhood. Thanks for a wonderful month of May on the blog! Here we come SUMMER!
xoxo,
m
Motherhood has a bond that is built among women. It’s strong without walls, chains or glue to limit us. It teaches us to accept each other because we can relate. We love harder, forgive faster and sleep whenever possible!
I’m looking forward to seeing her with you. Portraits with each one of you individually with her would always be cherished.
What a treasure to have her in your family and to even attempt to see the world through her eyes from where she has lived. Part of our feminine wisdom – to honor, cherish and gain understanding of others with that kind of vision – would bring more peace. Thank you for sharing your Nana with us.
What a beautiful tribute to mothers (and grandmothers, and mother-figures in general). I especially appreciate your reminder to take the time to love yourself, to show yourself the same compassion, kindness, and gentle encouragement that we so freely offer to everyone else. It has taken me eight years of motherhood to realize how supremely important this is. It is not selfish. It is necessary for ensuring that we remain “full” of what we need to be the wonderful mothers that we are. It may feel selfish, but it is really a gift to our children and loved ones. I need to be reminded of this often. Thank you!
Thanks ladies for the comments. I think every mother is so special in her own way. The amount of responsiblity that relies on ones shoulders is huge. Genie, that is a great idea about a photo with each of us. I will see about that when we get there. Hopefully oned day I will know too, what it’s like to have 89+ years of love and experience under my belt.
There are two images that aren’t loading for me and I’m not sure why! Ugh. The second and the last one. 🙁
Love the portrait of your great grandmother. She’s so beautiful. Loved learning a little more about you.