Mutter

We spend most the afternoon at the homestead, hanging out with Brian's parents. I love my mother-in-law something awful. She's 71 and has more energy than I do. She's a tiny little thing (her childhood nickname was 'peanut') and the absolute rock for her her husband and two sons. Ellie is just about the best mother-in-law I could have: she doesn't interfere and she doesn't judge- she just loves and supports.

Then there is my momma. A woman who has lived through some terrible, awful times and is stronger than anyone I know. Childhood abuse so terrible, I want to throw up when I think about it. Rape. The loss of three babies, one to miscarriage, one minutes after birth and one at two months of SIDS. Divorce. Raising two small children on $75 a week after daycare was paid. Working shit job after shit job before creating a career helping people with disabilities live better, fuller lives. She went to all of my band concerts. She cried with me when she cut my bangs too short. She sat proudly with me at the regional spelling bee after I let nerves get the better of me and misspelled 'dirt.' She gave me a beer when my prom date threatened not to show and resisted the urge to kick him in the balls when he finally knocked on the door. We've had some knock-down-drag-out fights, but I've always known that she has my back and she knows that I have hers.

Finally, I have all of my other moms, mothers of my best friends and women I can't imagine my life without. I have so many strong, fierce, loving women in my life, it makes me weep to know how lucky I am.

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