Happy Mother's Day, Mom!

Apologies for the absence of blogging as of late! Hoping to get back into things this week!

This past weekend was a weekend for my Mom. She celebrated her birthday on Saturday and Sunday, of course, was Mother's Day. This year I was lucky enough to spend the whole weekend with her. We couldn't have asked for better weather!

I'd just like to take the next 400 words or so and brag about my mom.

Each day my mom goes to work and takes care of other people's children. She works in a special needs classroom with kids that have autism, downs syndrome, learning disabilities, etc. There aren't many people who would have the patience, emotional strength, and discipline to take on a challenge like that, but I guess you don't know Cathy Rath that well. She is a certified teacher and has patiently waited her turn to have her own classroom. Of all the teachers I know, she is the most deserving of a classroom, but instead of getting angry about it, she sees every new step as a challenge and a learning experience. A lot of people may have given up in the meantime, but not Mom. She has one goal in mind: to be a teacher. Maybe she doesn't realize that she doesn't need a classroom to be an awesome teacher.

My mom is a straight shooter, something I'll never be. She walks around with a little attitude that makes me giggle, but then again she is married to my dad, which, if you know them, explains a lot :).  She loves kids, she loves her kids, and she instilled in each of her three daughters some of the most important qualities a woman could have in today's world. We are all independent, caring, spirited, creative problem solvers all because of Mom.

I could sit here and write about how my mom is the best mom in the world and you all would shake your head and disagree, explaining that your mom is actually the best. Fair enough. But my mom is the best mom to me, Emily, and Sarah.

She literally sat through every, single soccer game we ever played. She even watched every single softball game we ever played, and high school girls softball is BRUTAL to watch. She's traveled to Virginia, Texas, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and every corner of New York State to visit with us, watch us graduate, watch Emily get married, and just make sure we are okay.


Moms of her generation were some of the first to be working parents. I think there was a time in my mom's life when she thought she was letting us down because she was pursuing her dream of becoming a teacher. That couldn't be more wrong. In fact, I feel more confident today to chase my dreams because she proved that it can be done. For years and years, my mom labeled herself as a mom first. However, in the past six years or so, since we have all left the house to take on the world, she has come into her own.

I have a lot of my mom in me. Yesterday we were sitting around watching TV and the Kevin Durant MVP speech came on. She started crying. I realize then that behind mom's little attitude and straight-shooting exterior, she is deep and emotional. I get that quality from her, and being a writer, that is an exceptionally important thing.

So, now that I win the Daughter of the Year award for writing this, and my mom is reading this balling her eyes out, I just want to say thanks mom! For the life lessons, the trips to the mall, the pedicures, the chai lattes, the Twizzlers at soccer games, and for watching trashy TV with me. I love you!