I recently dusted off a book I had purchased months ago. "Conversations with my Mother" put out by AARP. It's a journal full of compelling questions to prompt dialogue and memories with your mother. I've been parsing out inquiries to my mother a few long distance calls at a time. I'm learning many little nuances and stories about her life that I've never heard before and some that she'd forgotten. It's wonderful to collect these anecdotes for myself and our kids.
What was your mother's nickname as a child? I learned that my great-grandfather called her "Million Dollar Baby" because her mother had a complicated pregnancy. This was especially expensive during the Great Depression. Another nickname she had was "Patsy." Why? Because she had flat feet and when she'd come running down the hall it sounded like pat-pat-pat and her father would exclaim, "Here comes Patsy!" These are just simple little stories and factoids that I'd never heard. How did your mother and father first meet? I always knew that they met in college, but I never knew that she intentionally tripped him as he walked by her on campus. It definitely got his attention. He's 6'4" and had a long way to fall for her. I'm glad to now have these and more little stories and memories to share with our kids. Wishing I had the something similar for my grandparents As I laughed learning these things I'd never known. She said teasingly "Oh, there are lots of things you don't know about me. You just need to keep asking." Try asking your mother some questions you've never asked before over brunch or on your phone calls today. You never know what you might learn.
