Thanks, Mom

Being a mom is by far the best job I’ve ever had. Hearing my kiddos say “mama” is the sweetest sound to my ears. The repeated “mom can I have...” or “mom, she did this...” aren’t always my favorite but being their go to is what I get to do.

I might be a couple of days late, and forgive me for blaming it on my mom duties along with a busy beginning of May, but I want to use my words here to thank my mom for all she does for me and my family. I know I can’t count the ways she has helped me grow into the woman I am but I will try to highlight a few I remember best.

When I was little, one of my favorite things to do with my mom was go to the Civic Center and see performances. The Phantom of the Opera is my favorite and we saw it twice, each time it has come to Des Moines. A lot of the time I got to invite a friend along because, although I have an older brother and two older sisters, for most of my formative years, I was the only one in the house, due to them being 10 plus years older than me.

We would get dressed up, go to a fancy meal and then see the show complete with its beautiful music, costumes and spectacular acting. This is a tradition I am working to continue with my girls, along with my mom, because I loved it so much.

Another favorite was participating in the Iowa State Fair. From the time I was in first grade, we created seed pictures together, gathered greenery, flowers and items from nature to create scenes and grew plants of our own to be entered into the open class contest in the agriculture building. I was also so proud to see my work at the fair, especially the few times I won the biggest purple rosette ribbon for top prize and my mom was the creative, behind-the-scenes talent helping me along.

As I got older, I started participating in sports, dance and other extra-curricular activities. I can’t honestly remember my mom missing a single event I participated in. She, along with my dad, were always sitting in the stands, cheering me and my teammates on beginning in little league through my senior year of high school. She even tried her hand as my coach in my younger years, giving up her spare time for me. Looking back, I am so thankful to always have had my parents there for me, giving up their weekends, nights and holidays for my pursuits.

There are many, many more ways I should thank my mom but now that I am a mom myself, I am most thankful for her relationship with my girls. During our dreadful bout with fleas at our previous house, the girls spent “the best three months” of their lives living at my parents house. They go there every day after school and there is always a snack ready for them when they walk in the door.

Anytime I need to fly out of the door for work, she is there to watch my girls. Every Monday, Grandee’s house is the place to go for the late start, a blessing for a working mom who needs to get to the office. If a kiddo gets sick and I can’t get home right away, my mom is my first call. She is also my first call when they aren’t feeling well with her vast health knowledge as a nurse.

She is there for me in so many ways I can’t even count them. I don’t know how people “do life” with kids without people to help. Knowing they are always there for me is a comfort I can’t completely explain. It doesn’t hurt we decided to live a whopping three blocks away from my parents, either.

So Happy Mother’s Day to my mom. Your presence in my life makes it better everyday, and I hope to have the same impact on my girls for many years to come.

Contact Jamee A. Pierson at jpierson@newtondailynews.com