Roots, part 4

Great Aunt Lakie loved my mom's name because it was the name of a real-life princess. Mom never went by Meg or Maggie or anything except for Margaret or Margaret Rose.
My mom's mother, Grandma Smith, told me more than once that mom was, "as independent as a hog on ice," which is a typical vivid saying from Grandma.
My mom was born and raised on a wheat and cattle farm in eastern Colorado. It's a wonder, really, why God decided to place her in a farming family. She doesn't like to sweat and I don't remember her doing much physical work except for cleaning and organizing. (But if cleaning and organizing was an Olympic event, she would win it hands-down every four years for decades, then become a coach for the U.S. She is that amazing.) Mom said the few times she tried to help Grandpa on the farm, it usually ended with Grandpa saying, "Margaret, go to the house."

Mom's house was always immaculate. Always. When my sister and I were older she would work all day doing administrative things at her job then come home to us asking her what she was making for dinner before she had her coat off. She made down-home food and it was always good--she even made left-overs taste good.
On the weekends she did everybody's laundry. She even ironed our jeans. Everything she did was neat and organized and I learned how to work hard by watching Mom. That is a huge gift.
Mom has a gift of discernment and wisdom along with her administrative gift. She can "read" people well and is usually spot-on. Truly, I should have listened to her more, but the independent-as-a-hog-on-ice thing didn't skip a generation.
The greatest thing about Mom is that she loves her children and grandchildren with all of her heart. She has always done her very best for us and her best is pretty darn good. She has shown me what it is to be a mother. I know I get my strong mothering instinct from her and I am ever so grateful for it especially when I see so many younger people struggle in this area because it has not been modeled for them. I am so grateful to Mom for that.
Mom was and always is a lady. She oozes dignity and decorum. And she has a good sense of humor which she has taught me is something truly important.
I use some of Mom's saying often. My favorites are, "It's the little things in life" and "You get what you pay for." It turns out that Mom was right about a lot of things. I am sincerely proud to have a princess and a farmer's daughter for a mother. I love her with all of my heart.