A Lesson from My Mother

I was 8 years old. I was invited to a party and was especially excited because I got to pick my own party outfit. I had the perfect ensemble: red blouse with yellow stripes and a kitty cat in the lower right corner, and a suede skirt. To complete the look, I recreated white gogo boots with white knee-high hose and white sandals. I looked in the mirror and knew I was stylin'. I also knew that I had runs in the back of my white hose, but I didn't think it really mattered. I just loved my white "boots."

I went to the party feeling rather grown up. I saw a really cute boy, slowly sauntered toward him, then, in a panic, went past him. I paused, took a deep breath, and gathered my young courage.

I turned around to smile - and saw with horror that he was pointing at the runs in my socks and laughing with his friends. Mortified, I rushed to a wall and stood with my back against the wall, refusing to move. My mom, noticing that I was by myself, came up to me and asked me what was wrong. In between sobs, I told her what happened. And she said:

"Did you know you had runs in your hose when you chose to put them on?"

"Yes."

"And did you like how you felt when you wore them?"

"Yes."

"Then what changed?"

And that was the first of many lessons. Confidence comes not from the approval of a boy.

My mother passed away a few years ago. But her lessons remain, with the choices I make, the words I use, and the clothes I wear.

My Mother

#humanmoments #family #mother'slove