I wrote this up for a contest that's being held by Borders, because my sister asked me to. It's called the "Times Mom Stood Up For Me" Writing Competition. Only caveat is that it has to be 300 words or less, which is tough! I thought I'd share.
I was not a well child. I say that, not with self-pity, but in a matter-of-fact tone. You see, I can be matter-of-fact about my medical problems because of my mother. To her, my problems were not disabilities or even challenges. They were… simply part of being me.
When I was in college, I came down with a bad cold in early December – the worst possible time to get sick when you’re a singer, especially at my school, where the annual Christmas Festival is equivalent to The Big Game at any other school. But illness was something I took for granted, so I donned a hat and scarf and headed off to class. After all, I was there for an education.
Unfortunately, when you are ill and can’t sing, peer pressure dictates you hole up in your room and nurse your cold so you can return to rehearsal as quickly as possible. I was called to the carpet and berated by the choir leaders for having the audacity to leave my room. Unable to defend myself for forging on, I broke down.
Upon learning of this, my mother wrote a scathing letter. She told of my history of illness and outlined all of my medical conditions. And she said that she was most proud of me because, when dealing with one illness after another, I simply put on my hat and scarf and continued on with my life. A few days later, I was bewildered to receive an apology from the choir director.
My mother has been gone now for five years. Like many mothers and daughters, we had a complicated and often difficult relationship. But every time I don my hat and scarf and do what has to be done in life, I think of my mother, and how proud I am to be her daughter.
