MOTHERHOOD
As a young girl, I always knew I would be a mom just like mine. Enjoying the housekeeping and cooking and reading stories to children is what I saw my mom do well, and she was always in a happy mood even though dad worked shift work.

Those days (in the 50s and 60s), being a mother involved more daily physical work than today. Her house and garden work and walking her children to school kept her in good physical shape so she didn’t need to go to a gym to stay in shape.

When I met the man I would have a family with, he agreed for me to stay home and raise the children instead of working outside the house and having someone else raise our young ones. He had also grown up in a family with three children and appreciated the importance of the “Stay at home mom.”

Right after we immigrated to Canada from Europe, I became more nutrition conscious and changed our diet to for healthier living. I believe this change assisted in having three healthy babies, one every five years. They had a happy early childhood with plenty of one to one attention and have retained their health conscious upbringing even to this day.

Through the teaching of my mother I was aware that being a mother also included being a teacher, a psychologist, a physical education teacher, a field trip coordinator,
a musician, a nurse, a housekeeper and a friend, just to name a few.

Today, two of the three are over 18 years old, and I am challenged to witness their independence while continually reminding myself to guide and not to control, because I don’t own them. After all, unconditional love is just that, no conditions, no strings attached.

Whenever we celebrate a birthday, I remind my friends or family that it is their mother they should celebrate, because she carried them in her womb, gave them birth and cared for them for so many years. However, experience is the best teacher, and I realize that my daughters will only truly understand their mother’s heart when they become mothers themselves.

There is a variety of wonderful mothers out there: grandmothers, who get to be mothers twice sometimes, mother-in-laws, sisters, sisters-in-law, neighbors, aunts as well as friends and co-workers. My heart goes out to them. Happy Mothers Day!!

This is my letter to my mom on this Mothers Day.

Dear Mom,

I know it seems weird, but I wanted to tell you with this Snail mail letter addressed to you in heaven, how much I appreciated your love and constant caring. It was always unconditional, during my younger years as well as during my teenage travels or my getting married overseas. You were such
a strong woman, because you had to let your dad go at a young age and work for the family to help with five other siblings. Then you married a much older man who worked shift work and raised three children in a town you never felt at home. Eventually, you lost your husband to Alzheimer’s disease. I wish I could have been there for you as much as you were there for me. I want to thank you for giving me and everyone else in my life your whole heart.

Our love was a tight bond, and despite the long distance, we kept in touch with letters, phone calls and special visits and trips. Two years ago, my last special visit was just in time to say I love you and good-bye and I still see you
laying there in peace with those red and yellow tulips under your hands, and the birds singing outside the window. This was the last time I could give you some lavender that you loved so much. Thank you for teaching me to enjoy the little things in life, you have taught me well. Thank you for giving me life. I love it and I love you!!

Katharina Stutz was born and raised in Switzerland. Kathy has studied at the Wildrose College of Natural Healing, and is a believer of alternative approaches to health issues. Contact Kathy at kathyrules58@yahoo.com