Everyone needs a Great Uncle Herb. Smacking his lips and telling animated tales behind thick glasses. Dancing across river rocks while wrestling with a forty-pound writhing salmon. Strumming his banjo with smiling beady eyes. One afternoon over tea he was telling us a story about peeing in his brother’s eye (I can’t do it justice) and he spoke of his mother’s reaction. I loved this image he painted, of a woman at her cook stove swatting rowdy boys with a spoon while laughing at the situation. I commented on her reaction – which made it obvious where Great Uncle Herb got his sense of humor. He gently smiled and said one of the most impactful things I’ve ever heard ‘Mothers are the heart of the home’. I know! I thought it was the kitchen too! But he’s right, it’s the Mama.
Ever since I’ve had kids I’ve let this echo around in the back of my mind. Recently, after a few days of a very shitty attitude on my part I realized, maybe I don’t really get it. What kind of heart does my home have? What do I WANT it to have?
Go back to Great Uncle Herb’s mom laughing at the wood stove. She was probably up since 5 am packing water, lighting fires, peeling, cooking, cleaning, over a sizzling stove and there she is laughing at her kids…. laughing with her kids (smacking them with spoons helped too I’m sure). What words pop up in your mind about the mood in this home? How does the mother set the tone?
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