Well said, Jo. Parenting is an adventure that never ends, and you don’t know if you’re any good at it until you see them with their own kids. It’s worth it, though. In spades.
Thank you for this wonderful Mother's Day post to your children Jo. I felt your uncertainty about raising them. I remember bringing home my first daughter from the hospital and bursting into tears because I wasn't sure what to do for her. We figured it out as we both grew. Then came daughter #2 and nothing i had learned from daughter #1 seemed to apply to her. Then my husband passed away when the kids were still growing up and suddenly I was a single mom. We muddled our way through that too. It must have worked because they are both wonderful adults that I am totally proud of. Now I'm looking back from seemingly old age expecting my first great grandchild in July!! I'm not quite sure how I got to be so old but it's been quite a journey. And I would say that my two wonderful daughters are the thing in my life that I'm most proud of - challenges and all!!
That's beautiful, Donna. Your love was the nourishment that held you and your daughter's together through what I can only imagine a terrible lose and great challenge.
I have been amazed at the resilience of single mothers. I was a military leadership instructor and some of my young students were single mothers rearing children with all the challenges of 24x7 availability for deployment and cooking, cleaning, schools, etc, etc. Amazing!
Your Mother's Day sermon was fantastic. As a parent, I can see the love you have for your kids and how you want the world and our country to be the best place for them to grow up in. We will come through this part of history stronger and more able to do great things for the next generation and our world. Keep up the good work.
Nothing prepared me for when my son moved out to live on his own. It wasn't to an apartment in the same city. It was to an apartment in a city, in a state, across the country. What a punch to the heart! After several years, he's back in the same city as his father and I.
That's when you know you've done a good job, both when they're strong enough to leave and when they appreciated the environment you gave them to return.
Wow, thanks for introducing us to your darlings, and to the good news that you’re the exact opposite with them than my mother was with me, as brought to life by your mention of the hand grabbing.
When we’d leave the safety of Englewood and go to the city it was always for something spectacular that I was excited about.
But getting from the parked car to our destination and back was a risky affair, as my mother was always a frantic skinny woman, walked in the city at blinding speeds with both arms wildly swinging, her elbows sharpened to a point, so set on her destination that she’d forget she even had kids.
Basically, the sucker child she had with her on any jaunt into the city was required to reman alert, to avoid getting a busted nose from that frantic elbow.
I actually don’t remember ever holding her hand as a child, not that I wanted to.
Fortunately, aside from parenting, my mother was a wonderful woman, smart, funny, a Civil Rights activist, and amusingly eccentric.
Thank you for this beautiful testimony to your awesome kids, Jojo! You are badass and you've done a wonderful job, Mom!!
Your children are beautiful, and you-Mama Bear Jo- are the best example to your kids on how to be brave and speak the truth.
Happy Mother’s Day! 🌹
Well said, Jo. Parenting is an adventure that never ends, and you don’t know if you’re any good at it until you see them with their own kids. It’s worth it, though. In spades.
Thank you for this wonderful Mother's Day post to your children Jo. I felt your uncertainty about raising them. I remember bringing home my first daughter from the hospital and bursting into tears because I wasn't sure what to do for her. We figured it out as we both grew. Then came daughter #2 and nothing i had learned from daughter #1 seemed to apply to her. Then my husband passed away when the kids were still growing up and suddenly I was a single mom. We muddled our way through that too. It must have worked because they are both wonderful adults that I am totally proud of. Now I'm looking back from seemingly old age expecting my first great grandchild in July!! I'm not quite sure how I got to be so old but it's been quite a journey. And I would say that my two wonderful daughters are the thing in my life that I'm most proud of - challenges and all!!
This is incredible! You are amazing!!!
That's beautiful, Donna. Your love was the nourishment that held you and your daughter's together through what I can only imagine a terrible lose and great challenge.
I have been amazed at the resilience of single mothers. I was a military leadership instructor and some of my young students were single mothers rearing children with all the challenges of 24x7 availability for deployment and cooking, cleaning, schools, etc, etc. Amazing!
Thank you Kevin. I learned from my mother first. I feel the same amazement at how far we've come.
I have nothing … now I have to go, I have something in my eye.
Brava and Amen❣️
Beautifully written, Beautifully said.
Happy Mother’s Day to you and blessings for you and your 2 fantastic
kids!!!
Beautiful, as always, Jo. It's thoughtful, honorable, intelligent, caring people like you who make me think your country actually has a future.
This is so beautiful and heartfelt. Thank you for sharing your life with all of us. Also, your kids are adorable.
Your Mother's Day sermon was fantastic. As a parent, I can see the love you have for your kids and how you want the world and our country to be the best place for them to grow up in. We will come through this part of history stronger and more able to do great things for the next generation and our world. Keep up the good work.
Nothing prepared me for when my son moved out to live on his own. It wasn't to an apartment in the same city. It was to an apartment in a city, in a state, across the country. What a punch to the heart! After several years, he's back in the same city as his father and I.
That's when you know you've done a good job, both when they're strong enough to leave and when they appreciated the environment you gave them to return.
Another straight to the heart of it so-true-and-so-strong-it-hurts-and-rings-all-the-bells column.
Happy Mother's Day, Jojo.
You had a great Mother's Day - Inside and out! The very best kind. Your writing is marvelous. Go Knicks!
Wow, thanks for introducing us to your darlings, and to the good news that you’re the exact opposite with them than my mother was with me, as brought to life by your mention of the hand grabbing.
When we’d leave the safety of Englewood and go to the city it was always for something spectacular that I was excited about.
But getting from the parked car to our destination and back was a risky affair, as my mother was always a frantic skinny woman, walked in the city at blinding speeds with both arms wildly swinging, her elbows sharpened to a point, so set on her destination that she’d forget she even had kids.
Basically, the sucker child she had with her on any jaunt into the city was required to reman alert, to avoid getting a busted nose from that frantic elbow.
I actually don’t remember ever holding her hand as a child, not that I wanted to.
Fortunately, aside from parenting, my mother was a wonderful woman, smart, funny, a Civil Rights activist, and amusingly eccentric.
A beautiful essay and thank you for the wonderful photos. You are an amazing mother and woman who inspires me. ❤️
Beautiful, beautiful writing straight from your heart to the heart of every person who reads this. Thank you, Jojo, for your gift.
So beautiful! You have a special bond with those beautiful kids of yours. A bond built with unconditional love. Happy Mother's Day.😀❤️😘
Thank you, Charlie!! ❤️
❤️❤️