A Mother's day love story for you... :-)

In so many significant ways--- ways that truly matter--- I've actually been fairly blessed in my life; I have my health, am obtaining a university degree, have the love of a good man, a growing business, etc. . But in no way have I been more blessed than to have had a mother's love from not just one, but two of the finest women God ever saw fit to place upon the face of His earth.

When my own Mam passed 10 years ago, I thought my world had ended. Although in fairness one would have had to call me a 'daddy's boy', to have read too much into that phrase would have been unfair to my Mam, who I also adored beyond reason. Her sudden death, coupled with my Daddy's, was a crushing blow to a ten year-old boy whose world was so small and safe, and in which they played such enormous parts. It's quite true that there is no love like a mother's love for her child, and I was sad, frightened and VERY angry at having been so suddenly and unfairly deprived of that love and the absolute security that it had always represented.


But, as I've said, I am twice blessed. If nothing else had ever occurred in my life to prove the existence of a loving and merciful God, that my brother married Siobhan would be all the proof I required. Sitting on my and Sean's bed the night of my parent's funeral, she and Dary asked if we would come live with them in America. I will never forget that night, nor the years that have passed since.

Siobhan was still a bride that night, 24 years-old and married but seven months to my brother; I have no idea what dreams she may have had for her marriage, her husband, their life together, starting a family, etc., and when I've asked, she always says the same thing: 'Life isn't about always getting everything you want, Paddy --- it's about wanting to make the best of what you get.' That she has done, and she has done so exceedingly well.

When I arrived in their home--- my new home--- I was grieving, angry, frightened and frankly, a little hellion. If any of you know what 'acting out' means, then you can begin to imagine what I did. At various times I cursed her, shouted at her, told her I hated her and wished her dead, slammed doors, fought, threw things, 'ran away' to my Gran's and so on. *blush* I'm sure there were times that she and Dary must have wondered whether or not they'd done the right thing, but if they ever did wonder, neither of them ever gave the slightest hint of it.

My Siobhan--- and that's how think of her now--- is that most rare of beings, a natural healer of things. Short, a bit stout with fine, mousy-brown hair, and entirely unprepossessing on a physical level, she is a tigress when it comes to those she loves and cares for, as she does for my brothers and I. Patient, gentle and kind, she has a quick smile, and even quicker wit and a heart that is both tender and as stout as the strongest iron. Siobhan is a big believer in kisses, hugs and laughter, not to mention frequent, gentle teasing. Though she did not give birth to me, no one could ever have been a better mother to a heartbroken child, and it was her gentle, loving spirit freely poured out upon me that healed my wounded heart and mind. She shared my tears, and dried them, held me when I was frightened or sad, nursed me when I was ill, encouraged me when I was filled with self-doubt, stood up for me when I was maligned and made me stand up for myself, when time came to accept responsibility for something I had done wrong. When I say my prayers, I include her not from any sense of obligation or filial duty, but out of sheer amazement and gratitude to God for bringing me within the bright circle of light that is her life, and allowing me to be a part of it.

It takes an amazing woman to raise another's children as if they were her own, but this she has done; though I am now 3 times an uncle to her and Dary's boys, she has never shown the slightest partiality or made even a smidgen of distinction between the three children she bore, and the four whose care was entrusted to her by Fate. She is now, and will forever remain not my sister-in-law, but my 'new mam', my Siobhan.

Happy Mother's Day to all of you, but most especially those of you who raise another woman's children as your own. God bless you!

:D

I hope you are going to give her a copy of this. :)

Please make sure you give this to her. Nothing will ever mean as much to her as these words, I am sure. What a great Mother's Day gift.

Thanks for sharing that story.

She understood a mother's love before becoming one. A true jewel. Indeed, you are a very lucky man, and a good one to realize it so young.

Happy Mother's Day Sioban and to all the others out that. How I'd love to be able to say those words to my own....

speak, or write. Lovely, just lovely. No wonder you turned out so well! DO print her a copy, she will love it. :hi:

your appreciation of others is wonderful. Sniffle. Have a great day and Happy Mother's Day to those you love. :yourock:

I will, if you truly think she'd like it. :hi:

But I bet it will make her cry, though (at least it will be the 'happy' tears)

Printing it out now. :)

I am certain you have told her as much many times. She obviously has a mother's heart for you so she will respond as a mother and most likely will cherish it for the rest of her life. Her grandchildren will find it one day tucked away with her most treasured items. I can assure you any woman who is like you describe will treasure it.

I can never tell her often enough, even though I tell her every time we speak. How can you tell someone 'thank you' who took the shattered pieces of your life, and mended them with infinite patience, care and loving attention to detail?

I've printed it out, and will be faxing it to her tonight, so she sees it tomorrow morning, when she checks her e-mail.

:)

She will know that all she tried to do for you was noticed and appreciated.

She sounds like the kind of person who wouldn't need or require that validation, but it would be meaningful to her to know that she has helped you and given you what you needed.

:)

I echo the other comments here - print this out and give it to her!:hi:

thanks you for sharing this with us, Pad, and give an extra hug to your Siobhan from me. :grouphug:

...and I'm sure she's proud of the gentleman you've become as a result from all her efforts as well!! :)

*grin* But she's every right to, seeing how large a hand she's had in whatever success I've enjoyed. :)

She sounds absolutely marvelous and so are you.

:hug:

It's nice to know that you have so much love in your family.

Siobhan taught me that I didn't need to be afraid to love again and, in fact, that it was the only way to ever heal the hurt. :)

I have always seen it written and never heard it spoken.

Sho-BAHN, although the 'b' is somewhat soft, and a cross between a 'b' and a 'v'. :)

Just got off the phone with Siobhan, and she was bawling like a baby, but she said it was because she was so happy.

You guys were right about sending it to her. Thanks! :grouphug::D

To say that I was devastated would be a gross understatement. And I was 27 at the time, not just 10 like you were, so I can bloody well imagine how you must have felt!

My mom's untimely death was the climax (for lack of a better word) of my life having been turned completely upside-down over the preceding few months. It all began when my dad--with whom I had lived--retired and decided to move to Nevada while I stayed behind in Connecticut. (My parents were divorced.)

Over the next three months (for reasons I need not delve into), I moved as many times. I also became involved with a woman who had an 18-month-old boy to whom I became quite attached. Unfortunately, it didn't take me long to discover that this woman thought monogamy was a type of wood. When she suggested that I was being "selfish" for not wanting her to see other men, I ended the relationship. It felt like cutting out a cancer with no anesthesia.

About two weeks after that, I got a phone call at work that my mother had been found dead in her apartment. From what they could tell, she had passed away of natural causes, but that did little to ease my agony.

For various reasons, I had spent much of my life estranged from my mother, but had finally begun to cut her some slack and was letting her into my heart. Then she had to die, leaving oh-so much unresolved between us. It haunts me to this day.

So, I pretty much try to ignore Mother's Day! :cry: