Baby Steps: Ode to Mom

This one goes out to the moms in my life. As a matter of fact – the lucky girl I am – I had three women to think about this past weekend.

My Grandma has been keeping her side of the family in order since I can remember. She is a no nonsense woman with many stories to tell and a sharp wit. In fact, the day of the tornadoes, she called me at exactly the same time I got the call from work saying we needed all hands on deck. Here’s the best part … she lives in Northern Virginia! She loves playing cards and bingo – and she’s pretty darn good at them too. If I’ve learned anything from my Grandma it’s this: to be who you want to be, without any apologies.

My mother-in-law came into my life more than five years ago. We met for the first time in Key West (where my husband and I were living at the time) and we bonded immediately. She is one of the most genuinely caring people I’ve ever met. And she has a mean sense of humor. I hear a new practical joke story almost every time we visit. I count myself lucky that, so far, I haven’t found myself the subject of the any of the Bowley pranksters – yet.

My own mother and I have far more in common than I like to admit. We speak our minds…sometimes to a fault. We are perfectionists. And we can sometimes allow our emotions to get the best of us. I can only hope one day that my strength is half of what hers is.

And one day I hope I can pass along what I’ve learned from all of these women – and more – to a daughter (or even a son) of my own.