Most Memorable Mother

May 9, 2010 by +Marj Wyatt
Filed under Marj Wyatt's Musings

It’s Mother’s Day in the United States. This is a holiday reserved for the women who gave us our lives and, if you are as fortunate as me, the person who believed in us so much that we knew we could never fail. Today, I will tell you some of the most memorable stories that I have about a remarkable woman who was my mother, my mentor, and my friend.

My mother was born in 1926, which means she grew up during the depression. She was the oldest in a family of 12 children and, because times were difficult, her father expected her to quit school so she could help earn money to feed the family. Mom didn’t honor that request for she knew it would inhibit her future possibilities. At the age of 15, the same year that World War II began, she left her family and moved into a girl’s home so she could finish high school and make something more of her life. Her courage and focus were quite admirable.

Perhaps one of the bravest things that my mother decided to do was to have a career other than being a homemaker. I know this doesn’t sound amazing at all these days but, during the 50’s, this was not popular. Many of the suburban housewives whispered among themselves about how she was neglecting her duties as a mother and a wife. Some of those women even prohibited their children from being friends with my sister and me but, in my eyes, nothing could have been further from the truth! Mom and Dad explained that she was going to work so we could have greater oppotunities. Her working created income opportunities for me around the house, which taught me to be enterprising, industrious and responsible.

Mom took a job as a secretary, which was about the only position that women were allowed to have at that time. Within a couple of years, she was promoted to the position of Wholesale Buyer which caused a bit of conflict within the secretarial pool. My mother loved what she did, and she was quite good at it too. Twice a year, she would travel to New York City and negotiate large purchases for her company. I got to tag along with her a couple of times. Having the chance to see her at work was nothing short of inspirational. She was well-respected and a tenacious negotiator.

One of the fondest memories that I have of her is a reaction she had to an editorial in the local paper. Some man had written that women should not work outside the home and, if they did, that they should stick to “jobs for women” and stay out of the more challenging business roles because men were better suited for those sorts of positions.

Mom had a fit! She went straight to her typewriter and prepared a response that was published by the paper. This created quite a stir in the family, since she had used her married name on the letter. I will never forget listening in on a debate between my mother and grandfather, who was unhappy that she had used “his” name on such a controversial subject. She stunned him to silence when she retorted, “It’s my name too!” In that moment, she taught me that it was OK to stand up for what you believed in and be who you are, regardless of the circumstances. Remarkable!

I’m chuckling as I write this … and experiencing a little emotion too. I miss my mother very much.

Although Mom didn’t always agree with my ideas as a youth, she never told me I was wrong. In the truest sense of the word, she mentored me by discussing the pros and cons, just as she would with any adult. Those conversations always ended with her telling me that she trusted my judgment, which was empowering. I got to test my strategies and, if something didn’t work out the way I expected, she never said, “I told you so.” She would offer her advise and recommend solutions but it was always up to me to decide what path to choose. That was her greatest gift to me. Over the years, her strength became my will.

Her independent style and tireless encouragements are factors that still motivate me today. Her belief in me allowed me to rely on my good instincts, which has been the basis for every decision that I’ve made in my career. She taught me to disregard the nay-sayers and follow my own path. This is something you will feel in many of my articles and it is one of the primary reasons that GetIncomeBlog.com was launched in 2008.

Whether I am writing about following your passions or shutting out the noise around you so you can try something new, my message is always the same; Believe in Yourself first. It isn’t always comfortable to follow the road less traveled but, if you believe in yourself and your abilities, the pot holes on your path are never so deep that the axle will break on your carriage.

Mom’s resilience never ceased to amaze me. Up until the day she went into a coma, a week before her death, my mother’s mind remained sharp, she never doubted my ability to succeed, and she was a good friend to me. I was blessed to have her in my life.

So, this one is for you, Mom!

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