10 Things I Remember Most About My Mom

An open letter to Mom for Mother’s Day.

1. About two years ago I was offered a six figure salary to work for an advertising agency. I thought about it for a very long time. I told my mom I could take that gig and get out the Army. My mom told me, “Yes it would be nice to take a job and make hundreds of thousands of dollars. But if you retire you can say you finished.” I don’t know if my mom knew it at the time but when she said the word ‘finished’ it meant something to me. I’ve always wanted to finish something and that means more than money.

2. When I was a teenager my mom bought me a table. She was so proud of that table. She told me it was a place I could study. At the time studying was the farthest thing from my mind. As a teenage boy with hormones raging what do you think was on my mind? You guessed it. (There’s no need for me to go any further.)

I looked at the table, smiled and told her thank you. I never used the table. Today I’m always at a table studying and writing. In fact there’s a term for people like me — “The Kitchen Table Entrepreneur.” I love a good table. It’s where I do my best work. Made some good money on the side sitting at a table.

3. I remember for my birthday my mom would have an ice cream cake and cool toys waiting for me when I got home from school . Dude I had the coolest childhood ever!

4. I remember seeing my mom in her room with nursing books all over the bed as she was busy studying for her nursing degree. She also used to keep cassette tapes all over the house with recordings of her lectures. Secretly I stole her tapes and recorded songs on them. Not sure if she ever found out.

5. I remember being in Germany and my mom would ask me the same question on Sunday when we talked on the phone. The two questions stayed the same the entire time I was overseas.

Question # 1 Mom: “Are you going to church?” Me: “No.”
Question # 2 Mom: “Are you going to college?” Me: “No.”

I figured she would stop asking but she just kept at it. I took a semester of college until I found out they had clubs in Germany. But I went to church once before I left Germany. Today, many years later I have a 4 year college degree and attend church on Sunday. Perseverance pays off.

6. I remember my mom got laid off of work a few years ago. She was laid off a couple months. She never wavered. She seemed confident. I was waiting for her to break down. To my knowledge she never did. She just kept on truckin’. I interviewed her during this time and had plans of helping her publish a book (I wanted to post the recording but I can’t find it right now). I set her up a LinkedIn profile. My mom didn’t pay attention to her LinkedIn account until one day I visited her and she was complaining about people reaching out to her. I told her that’s the point of LinkedIn. It was a trip. Thankfully my mom got rehired. She’s back at work. Strong woman.

7. I remember asking my mom if she liked being a nurse. A huge smile came over her face and with a twinkle in her eye she said, “I love it.” At that moment I realized the importance of finding something you love. I’ve seen my mom go through tough times in nursing. She’s found her passion. Maybe that’s why I’m all about doing what I love which is reading and writing.

8. I remember calling my mom and telling her I’m saved. She was silent on the other end of the phone. I thought she hung up. She started crying. She said, “You gonna make me cry at work. I always prayed that you would make Jesus your Lord and Savior.” That was cool man.

9. I remember playing music and my mom heard the guy curse. My mom ran to the stereo and yanked the tape out. She threw it in the trash and told me not to listen to curse words. I was stunned. She just threw my tape in the trash. I learned not to play curse words around my mom. I didn’t know at the time but my mom protected me from negative influences. Later in life I’ve gotten to the point where I no longer listen to negative music. It affects your mood. Today I’m always listening to audio programs on how to get better. My car is a university on wheels. For the past 14 years I’ve gotten an unbelievable education on sales, marketing, and personal development. I spend my time listening to programs on how to live a better life. It’s a wonder things have turned out well for me. It’s not an accident, I had a mom who showed me the way.

10. I remember my cousin came to my house to take me to the fair. Everything would’ve been cool but my cousin brought one of our friends my mom didn’t approve of. The guy looked ok to me but my mom wouldn’t let me go to the fair. Later my cousin asked her why she wouldn’t let me go. My mom said because the guy he brought over looked like a thug. Funny thing is a month or so later my cousin got into a fight with the guy. I was laughing when my cousin told me, “Your momma told me he was a thug!” Momma knew how to spot’em. Don’t get me wrong. I did my share of things which my mom didn’t approve of but she protected me from dangers I didn’t see. I’m grateful for a mom who was strict.

I’m leaving out the stuff she probably doesn’t want me to advertise to the world.

Like when she bailed me out of jail.
Protected me when people threatened to kill me.
Cops and federal agents coming to the house. True story man. My mom has been through it all with me.

I was not an easy child to raise but somehow she’s found it in her heart to still call me son. I love her with all my heart.

Happy Mother’s Day Momma.