Trares
The gifts my mother has given me are impossible to count.
I’m not talking about the physical items such as food, clothing, toys, sports equipment, bicycles and so much more that she provided me growing up and still gifts me now — though those, too, represent such an astronomical number that it would be too hard to calculate.
No, I mean the unseen qualities, attitudes, mindsets and passions that mom instilled in me throughout my life.
My love of nature comes from her. She taught me at an early age the joy of the outdoors, whether it’s a walk in the woods, a trip to the local park, or just sitting on the front porch. Even at a young age, I’d spend hours outside, more often than not coming home with mud-caked shoes and maybe some bugs, dried leaves and other of nature’s souvenirs. Mom never discouraged me — unless I brought that stuff inside.
She loved to catch fireflies and marvel at butterflies in the summer, search for seashells at the beach and watch the sunset over a lake.
Like her love of nature, my mom has a love for people. She always emphasized the importance of kindness — befriending a child who might not have any other friends, mowing a yard or shoveling snow for a neighbor without being asked, or just saying hi to people as they pass on the street.
For her, there are no strangers; everyone deserves a warm smile and a friendly greeting. I try to remember that, even when I get busy or my mind is preoccupied.
But nothing my mom has taught me is more vital than the importance of family. She ensured we sat down for family dinners, and even when we grew into sulky teenagers, encouraged us to share time together on the weekends, if just for a little bit.
She was our travel agent, planning vacations we could all enjoy, whether it was a stay at a state park, a trip to northern Michigan or a visit to the windswept Outer Banks of North Carolina. Where we went wasn’t as important as much as making sure we were all there to relax.
We regularly visited our grandparents, aunts and uncles, both for holidays and for random weekends. At family reunions, my siblings and I would play for hours with cousins and distant relatives, making connections we otherwise never would.
There is no doubt: I would not be the man I am today without those gifts. And her influence is still carrying through our family. She teaches the same loves and interests to Anthony when she’s with him. I can see that when he runs through the grass in our backyard, when he shares with other kids on the playground, and when he insists we all sit down for dinner at the table.
I’m thankful for everything my mom has passed on to me. And I can’t wait to keep learning from her for years and years. On this Mother’s Day weekend, I want to thank her, as well as give thanks — to my wife, my grandmother, my mother-in-law and to all the moms doing their best out there.
Enjoy your day.
Ryan Trares is a senior reporter and columnist for the Daily Journal. Send comments to [email protected].
