What’s black and white and read all over. My mother’s love.
My mother’s handwriting.
A letter with my name penned with my mother’s handwriting arrived yesterday.
It was filled with newspaper clippings.
This happens fairly often. Some recent article have dealt with the dangers of Facebook and how to protect yourself from picking up a bedbug infestation from a hotel stay. (They latter which has scarred me from ever placing a suitcase on a carpeted hotel floor for life.)
First noteworthy article was titled:
Video games and the risk of becoming nearsighted.
Part she highlighted in yellow: According to a new study, it appears that too much time on video games or TV raises your child’s risk for nearsightedness.
Fair enough. Standard mother advice.
Second clipping: How do you teach stick-to-itiveness?
She had covered in yellow ink the phrase: “Bright kids who spend a good chunk of their time doing things that come very easily to them typically shut down when they hit something difficult. Good point.
Part of the problem is inexperience at being truly challenged.
Okay, standard passive-aggressive long distance helicopter grandparenting.
Article number three: 4 Risks of Gel Manicures.
No highlighted part here. I’ve never heard of such a thing and I never pay to get my nails or toenails done any more. Budgetary constraints. All I gather is that someone thinks these gel things are bad.
Consider yourself forewarned by my mother.
And consider the source.
The last and final clipping threw me. Titled: Alcohol, vinegar treatment gets rid of lice for some, I thought she was pointing to a Listerine treatment for head lice.
But oh contraire, the highlighted portion read:
DO NOT apply blackstrap molasses to hemorrhoids.
I am utterly confused. I did suffer from a horrible said affiction 19 years ago after giving birth. And once when I was in a health food haze, I choked down a tablespoon of blackstrap molasses daily.
But what on earth did she think I was doing with it these days?
I love you mom. I love your letters.
And don’t worry. Not buying the blackstrap molasses these days.
What are some of the weird things your mother does that you love?
This is priceless. My Mom collects articles for me, but she typically saves the articles in a pile to hand me during a visit. Thankfully, we live in the same state.
This is the sort of thing I’d miss if she weren’t still here.
P.S. Thanks for the bit about blackstrap molasses. I’ll skip that treatment next time. *shudder*
Thanks Diane. I should have been saving them all these years, that could have been “my book.”
Hahaha, I love this. I still live with my mom, and we don’t get the newspaper, so no clippings for me. My boyfriend’s grandfather does this to his family, though.
Hmm… I’m having a tough time thinking of weird things my mom does! If I do, I’ll be sure to come back and share them.
This is amazing! I love each one – and the stick-to-itiveness is so very needed!
WHEW, imagine if you applied the blackstrap molasses as a topical treatment???? In your quest for shrinkage, you would instead be forever reminded of pancakes.
I love that she takes the time to cut out and highlight articles for you.
My mom does the same, and so did my grandma:) Cool post–thank you for reminding me:)
Hhahaha that is a bit bizarre! Oh well, nice to know that she cares!
Oh my – this is funny AND adorable.
My mom does the same thing, only she sends me links through e-mail.
Stopping over from Hanging Out.
Hahahaha! Is your mom also my grandmother? Cuz it sure sounds like it to me.
Found you on the Yeah Write hangout!
I can relate to that. In fact, I already have a box almost full to the brim with those clippings my mom sends me.
I think I love your mom.
When my parents were alive they used to send me ridiculous news clippings out of the blue, which makes me thankful they didn’t have Facebook back then, or God forbid – Twitter. The things I can only imagine they would send me today, publicly, thru social media! Oy vey!
Your mom is a gem.
Love this! I think your mom must have known my grandmother! She was always pointing out the weirdest little tidbit of information.
Oh I so relate! I remember when the nurse brought my daughter to me wrapped so tightly in the blanket that I thought she was trying to hurt her. And I immediately felt protective . Of course this was also before I realized what “swaddling” was and why they do it! lol But I love your writing and so glad I found your blog
Ah! The Mama Bear moment! I’m with you.
This is the sweetest thing! I have Aunts that do things like that for me, but never with highlighted bits!
I really enjoyed this post, and your Mom made my day.