Behind "Lessons My Mother Taught Me"

When my mother passed away on September 7, 2011, I was devastated. I was very close to my mother and couldn’t imagine a world without her in it. I found myself severely depressed. Writing, which is usually always my stress reliever, was completely out of the question. I couldn’t find the words to say or anything to write about.

One night about two weeks after her passing, I had a really bad emotional breakdown. I sat in my room bawling and couldn’t stop. I was thinking about all of the things I would miss – her smile, the sound of her voice, the feel of her hugs. What worried me the most was that she would be forgotten.

My niece and nephew are very young. What will they remember about their Grandma? I don’t have any children yet. When I do, will they want to know about my mother at all?

I finally decided that instead of just letting Mom slip away from me, I should write down all the things I want others to know. If twenty years from now my children want to learn about their grandmother, what would I want them to know?

This is the goal of “Lessons My Mother Taught Me.” I am keeping my mother alive for those who will come after her.