I want to share an epiphany, or awakening I recently had..................

Thanksgiving was fast approaching and once again I was dreading the holiday without mom. I was feeling sorry for myself, too, because I have sons and they aren't the least bit sentimental about family traditions, like baking pies the night before. That was something mom and I did faithfully every year, then all would gather at her house for dinner the next day. Well, I had the radio on one day and caught just a snippet of a commercial about "going to grandma's house for Thanksgiving dinner."

The words hit me like a bolt of lightning. Mom was gone and now I WAS GRANDMA
In that moment I went from being a still-grieving daughter to family matriarch! And the more I think about it, the better it fits. (Except I'm waaaaaay too young to be a matriarch.... )

It feels right.
A small shift in my perspective, brought about by chance.
Amazing.

Wow, thanks for sharing that Karenlee.
How really, truly awesome.
Carol

Oh Karenlee,

Very very nice awakening, but very very scary too to know that we all will be becoming the matriarchs of our families. Don't tell the kids though, cause they'll think their too young also to have a mother as the matriarch of the family. I know my girls would be devastated!!!

And you know what Karenlee, girls aren't always real sentimental about traditions either. They seem to want to start their own, so my theory is you do the cooking, you can do the tradition!! If not, we stick to mine!!

Jackie

That circle of life just keeps on going. We pick up where our parents left off whether it's with our children, our beliefs, traditions or whatever. They leave us something very dear to share with those we love. It really is such a gift.

I remember the first time my daughter came home after Dad died. We stood on their front porch and I held her as she cried. She really needed me to be strong and I was, just for her. She needed her mother like I needed mine when I was hurting. It was the first time I had to step up to the plate and go out of my shell of grief to comfort my child. That was my epiphany when I realized the roles had now changed.