Special Saturday - The Meanest Mother

Yesterday my MIL gave me a piece of paper that looked like a copy of a newspaper clipping.

After reading it, I called her and asked her why she gave it to me.  She said that she found it while cleaning one of her desk drawer.  Apparently a long time ago, Jeff gave it to her and she was so touched by it and kept it.  For those of you who had a mean mother, I know you can relate to this.  Please take time and read the following article.

THE MEANEST MOTHER

I had the meanest mother in the whole world.  While other kids ate candy for breakfast, I had to have cereal, eggs or toast.  When others had cokes and candy for lunch, I had to eat a sandwich.  As you guess, my supper was different than the other kids' also.

But at least I wasn't alone in my sufferings.  My sister and two brothers had the same mean mother as I did.

My mother insisted in knowing where we were at all times.  You'd think we were on a chain gang.  She had to know who our friends were and what we were doing.  She insisted if we said we'd be gone in an hour that we be gone one hour or less - not one hour and one minute.  I am nearly ashamed to admit it, but she actually struck us.  Not once, but each time we did as we pleased.  Can you imagine someone actually hitting a child just because he disobeyed?  Now can you begin to see how mean she really was.

The worst is yet to come.  We had to be in bed by nine each night and up early the next morning.  We couldn't sleep till noon like our friends.  So while they slept - my mother actually had the never to break the child-labor law.  She made us work.  We had to wash dishes, make beds, learn to cook and all sorts of cruel things.  I believe she laid awake at night thinking of mean things to do to us.

She always insisted upon our telling the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth, even if it killed us - and it nearly did.

My mother was a complete failure as a mother.  None of us has ever been arrested, divorced or beaten his mate.  Each of my brothers served time in the service of this country.  And who do we have to blame for the terrible way we turned out? You're right, our mean Mother.

Look at all the things we missed.  We never got to march in a protest parade, nor take part in a riot, burn draft cards and a million and one things that our friends did.  She forced us to grow up into God-fearing educated, honest adults.

Using this as a background, I am trying to raise my three children.  I stand a little taller and I am filled with pride when my children call me mean.

Because, you see, I thank God.  He gave me the meanest mother in the whole world.

As you can tell, this must have been written a very long time ago because some of this would not happen now a days.  I can really relate to this and I am so thankful that God he gave me a mean mother but most of all, I am also filled with pride because I am  the luckiest mother for having such a wonderful daughter and son.