Sunday, May 12, 2013

Phe-mom-enal

Dear Mom;

Happy Mother's Day. I have always loved you with all of my heart, but as I have gotten older and hit bumps in the road, I think I love you more now than I ever did growing up. Maybe not "more", but definitely "differently".

Maybe it's because we almost lost you a few years ago. The thought of losing you scared me so much that we changed places for a while. I was your champion, your advocate, your caretaker. I was terrified that I would lose you.

You pulled through, and I'm grateful I have you every single day. Because I know that one day, (hopefully when we're both really, really old) you won't be here. My heart hurts to even think about it.

Andrew told me about an article he read, talking about how fetal cells cross the placenta and go into the mother's blood and stay there. You are a part of me, and I am a part of you. Literally.

We share our relationship with the whole world for an hour a week, and most of our listeners get our relationship. Some don't, and that's okay, because we get it.  We have the same sense of humor, mutual respect for each other as adults, and most of all, we genuinely enjoy each other's company.

There are people who hate their mothers, never speak to them, live thousands of miles from them, and say horrible, ugly things about their mothers. I don't get that. I can't even begin to understand it, and I feel sorry that they don't share what we do.

Good relationships don't happen by magic; you made raising us your career, and you excelled at it. You have always been there, whether we wanted you or not, because you knew that we needed you - even if we didn't know it. You made sure that we were intellectually enriched, but not over-scheduled. You have always been honest with us.

You sewed for us; beautiful clothes, fun and inventive Halloween costumes, and formal gowns as I got older. You knit for us. You cooked us delicious, nutritious food. You did the things that your mom didn't do for you, because you wanted us to have the mother you wished you had.

When I was growing up, I was confident that there was nothing you couldn't do, and only a handful of questions you couldn't answer. Couture sewing? Sure! Pipe whipped cream on cupcakes? Easy. Make a papier-mâché headpiece? DONE. To this day, I am impressed with the breadth and depth of your knowledge.

You were always willing to discuss things and treated us with respect. You taught us that we needed to stick together because we would always be a family, and someday, Sam and I would only have each other left to lean on.

More than the things you did for us, you made sure to do things *with* us. You were always enthusiastic about trying new things, and you taught us that many hands make fast work. You also taught us - by example - that failure is okay. Like when we tried to splatter paint the living room, and it just looked like projectile vomit on the walls. We laughed, took pictures, painted over it, and tried something else.

 You have always been supportive of my crazy ideas, 1000%. When I called you at 11pm one night in 2007 and said, "We should do a podcast! And we'll call it 'The Knitmore Girls'! Write this down!", you said, "Okay. What's a podcast?"

You taught us to love learning by example. I am so proud that you're not one of *those* people. The ones who refuse to move with the times and declare technology "hard". I love showing you the first step, and watching you take off from there. (I especially love when you run into one of your Luddite peers and say things like, "Can you believe that they don't do Facebook/texts/the internet?")

You are the best travel companion a person could ask for; you're flexible, easygoing, and have been known to remind us all that "we can sleep when we're dead!"

I love that Genevieve is your MiniMe, because in a sad, dark, wonderful way, I feel like this way I'll always have a part of you in my life. 

You are an incredible grandmother. Every day I learn a little something new about how to be a better mom through your example. You are loving, but you don't tolerate bad behavior.  We play, we dance, we sing, we snuggle. My home is full of joy, love, and laughter, and I couldn't have done it without you.

You remind me to take deep breaths, to finish my coffee. You are my sous chef in the kitchen, my extra pair of hands with Genevieve, and my sounding board.

When I am unkind to myself, you remind me that *nobody* speaks that way to YOUR baby, and insist that I treat myself with the same respect I show others.

You think it's strange that I thank you every single day, for helping, for being here, but I don't think you really understand how grateful I am. 

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Me and the Mouse. Stitches West 2013, photo by @abbyknitz
I hope that Genevieve and I will have the same type of relationship that we have, because I treasure it. Thank you for being a phenomenal mom.

14 comments:

  1. Well, most anything I've come up with to include in this comment seems a bit odd. Mostly because I don't actually *know* you.
    So I will leave it at this:
    Neatly said and - truly - thank you for sharing.
    'Tis appreciated.

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  2. With tears running down my cheeks, I know this post has touched me so strongly because I know that every word is true. I've seen the relationship you share, and I love you all so much. Jasmin, you are an amazing mom because you have an amazing mom, and you and Genevieve will surely share the same deep, graceful love because she has the most wonderful examples to go by.

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  3. You AND your mom are amazing and I feel lucky to know you! I'm sure Ms. Mouse is going to turn out awesome. :)

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  4. What a beautiful tribute to your mother. I am really blessed that I had the privilege of personally witnessing the interaction between you two and your precious relationship. There is so much love and mutual respect. I confess a little envy that I was not so close to my own mother, but it was not her way. Gigi is a rare gem who has raised the bar for all us mothers and given you (and Genevieve) an enduring legacy.

    PS I miss you both and I am so thankful for the podcast so I can get a little Jasmin & Gigi "fix" on a regular basis!

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  5. What a beautiful tribute. Speaking as a person who relationship with their mother does not "work", I am very glad that there are mother and daughter combinations out there like you and Gigi. I am envious of the joy that you share and so happy that you have each other. :)

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  6. One of my favorite sayings is "the apple doesn't fall far from the tree," and from what I can tell in listening to your weekly podcasts and reading this gorgeous post, your family has some amazing apples!

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  7. I have no words that can compare to yours, only tears. Well said. I have a wonderful relationship with both of my girls maybe because my relationship with my mother was not the best. Jasmin & Gigi, what wonderful role-models you are for all to see.

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  8. What a heartwarming post. I love your podcast and envy how much you and your mom have in common. I hope to develop that kind of relationship with my daughter as she grows up.

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  9. Tears here in Durham, UK, too. Beautiful post. I nearly lost my mum this winter to pneumonia (my parents are at a distance and made light of it but I know it was bad) and I really have no idea how life without her would be bearable. I have a son instead of a daughter and won't have what you have with G but I hope he appreciates me too. Thanks for being so eloquent.

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  10. So wonderfully said! It is blessing to get a small glimpse into you and Gigi's relationship each week. What a wonderful legacy your family has already woven.I know that I look at it this way with my 4 children...."My children are the legacy that I send, into a time I will not see." You will indeed be a blessing to more people than you will ever know.

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  11. Jasmine,
    I am crying as I sit here and type this. What an absolutely beautiful message you wrote to your mom! I have not had the best relationship with my mom, but my daughter Jillian(23 yrs old) and I are very, very close. She is pregnant with my first grandbaby :)
    Thank you, from the bottom of my heart for sharing your message with all of us...your fans :)

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  12. I knew there was a reason why I loved your podcast from the first one I listened to. I had a mother who was just like Gigi. Warm, funny, and we called her "golden hands" because there didn't seem to be a thing she couldn't sew, cook, whatever. Made me gorgeous dresses for dances and my babies the most fabulous costumes for Halloween. Always put us first. Although I am 67 and she is gone 7 years now, my daughters and I don't know how we still exist without her but we do because she taught us so much. Continued love, health and happiness for you, Gigi, and Genevieve.

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