Memories of motherhood: It often wasn’t easy — but I wouldn’t change a thing | Opinion

This Sunday, it will be time to say, Happy Mother’s Day!

Just thinking of this day and what it means to so many, brings back loving memories of my mother and all the “other mothers” in my life. And I am thanking them — some who have long since left planet Earth — for being a part of m y life; for helping me to become the person that I am today.

Mothering is not an easy task. Moms don’t always make the right decisions. I know I haven’t always called the right shots. But I tried, with all my heart, to be a good mom to the sons God gave me. Being a mom for me, means that while I have shed many tears, I have also had many years filled with laughter and many golden hours.

Being a single mom with sons meant that life was a colorful journey. The times I treasure most were those days after I’d finished my job as a maid, caring for and loving somebody else’s children, I could at last be with my own children to shower them with love and kisses. I am amazed at the capacity of the heart that God gave to us mothers. It is big enough to love all who needed us.

On such days, I would rush to get dinner started and then I would sit on the “reading chair,” an upholstered platform rocker in the living room, and read to my young sons. I was slim enough back then for one to sit on either side of me. Their favorite books were the Dr. Seuss series.

One day while remembering those days, Shawn said to me, “Mom, those were some of the happiest days for me.” I never knew. It was such a simple thing — spending time with the two most important humans in my life. It amazed me how that one thing could bring such happiness and, for me, one of the biggest compliments.

As the boys grew, I became more anxious. I would have to give them “the talks” — one about sex, the other about surviving as Black young men in a world they loved but would not always love them back. That was the hard part. But I always knew I would be able to forge through because of my faith. Thank God for Jesus, who always spoke to me in a still, small voice, letting me know that if I put my trust in Him, I could do anything. And so, I did.

As the challenges got bigger, the chats around the dinner table became more valuable. After church on Sunday, and after school for them, and after work for me during the week, this was a ritual. Those were the times that we bared our souls to each other. There was laughter and, often,a good scolding for them. And times when I had to ask them for forgiveness when I had wrongly called them out.

There were lots of fun times, too. Like the Saturday when Lena, our German shepherd. gave birth to a litter of 13, and Shawn, then 10, called the office every time a pup was born. It got so that my co-workers were keeping tally, too. Shawn was a great midwife, or midboy, if you will. With my mom there to guide him, he helped our Lena through the birthing process.

That night, it turned cold, and it was my turn. We went to the neighborhood store and told the manager that we had a new litter of pups and needed to make a bed for them in the kitchen. He cut a cardboard box down and told us to pad it with old blankets and towels to keep the pups warm. We brought Lena and her new family inside from the utility room to a warm kitchen.

I sat in a chair near the stove and fed puppies all night long. As one went to sleep after a feeding, another would start crying. Poor Lena was so proud of her pups, but just too tired to feed them all. So, I was a surrogate mom to 12 pups that night. (One died at birth).

The boys grew up too fast. Soon, Rick was being tagged as the sweetheart of a club at Carol City High School and the girls from the club were at the house at 5 a.m. to tag him. Rick was a sight; with his hair in braids going every which way to keep his “fro” looking good for school. The girls, who had asked my permission in advance, didn’t seem to care. They giggled and tagged him and rushed out of the house to go home to get themselves ready for school.

Rick pretended to be angry with me for not alerting him about the girl’s early morning visit. And Shawn just laughed and laughed, holding his stomach like it was killing him!

As Rick grew into being a sportsman and a ladies’ man. Shawn grew up to be more interested in music and in all of God’s creatures. Once, when he was 12, he requested money for his birthday instead of gifts. So, what did he buy? An alligator. That’s right, my son Shawn bought himself a pet alligator. He named him Ollie.

It was a happy day for me (I’m sorry, ya’ll) when poor Ollie choked on his breakfast and died. Shawn was so sad. Rick and I pretended to be sad, too. But out of his sight, I rejoiced! Now I didn’t have to worry about what to do when Ollie became a six-footer. We gave Ollie a decent burial in a shoebox lined with fabric and laid him to rest in the back yard.

Ah, the memories of motherhood. Looking back over the sweat and tears and all the challenges, I can honestly say that I wouldn’t change a thing — even if I could. Except maybe having a little more time with Rick here on earth. The Lord saw fit to call him home on Sept. 14, 2013. Still seems like yesterday to his brother and me.

Miami Youth for Christ member honored

Congratulations to my friend George Brown, who recently was honored for his 30 years of service as a member of the board of the Miami Youth for Christ.

That is longer than any other board member has served on the board of the 75 years the organization has served the Miami-Dade County area.

George joined the board back in 1993, in the aftermath of Hurricane Andrew, and has worked diligently for the organization ever since.

He said he got involved with the Christian youth organization when Jack McClellan, a member of his church at Old Cutler Presbyterian, and a board member himself, told him that “life would really matter” if he got involved. That’s all it took.

“I stay involved because I don’t know any organization that seeks so ardently to save young people,” George said. “Being involved has helped my Christian walk stay exciting because of all the new ways we try to reach children.”

George, now retired from The Green Companies, lives with his wife Marilyn, in South Miami. She is an award-winning photographer who specializes in black-and-white images of the Florida Everglades, America’s West, and historic scenes throughout South Florida.

“She has been involved with me in the organization from the beginning… seeking to win young people for Christ,” George said of Marilyn.

The Browns are the parents of two adult children — Dr. Bill Brown an ear, nose, and throat surgeon, and George Jr., a lawyer living in New York City — and have six grandchildren.

Bea Hines can be reached at bea.hines@gmail.com