Oh Maggie. I can just imagine your dear mother giving you her all. She was a very special woman and I learnt a lot from her. Quite like my own mother really. I miss them both.
I lost my mother to cancer just after I turned 15. I have photos of her as a child, a teenager, a young woman but until today I’d never wondered about her as a person who was not a mother. You’ve inspired me to do some wondering about an early life way back in the 20s, 30s and 40s. She would have been 103 on the 3rd May.
This was beautiful - thank you. I love the sound of your mother - what a brainwave to give you a day each … with her. That was so generous. I know what you mean about ambivalence to Mother’s Day. But, my ambivalence has a different, painful source - a 98 year old, bitter and unkind, hurtful and needy mother who’s aiming for 100!
Maggie, you write so beautifully, and I felt it all. My dear Mum died in 2015 and Mother's Day is a painful reminder of her absence. So now, I spend it with my Dad, we reminisce and do our best to turn it into a loving day. Thank you for sharing your memories of your Mum. OMG that trailer for Tina had me in floods of tears!
Ahh I spy my sister in law in the middle of that photo! I hope you all Had a wonderful time, so glad she took the time out from kids and broken bones to do something she loves!
Cam and I talked about going to Adelaide this year, but she is the middle of exams so it wasn't to be. We watched it online and nearly cried when poor Sophia missed a jump and got eliminated when she was in second place in the 5*... we also nearly cried when Cam's XC instructor had to withdraw her horse (also in the 5*) before even starting as it developed pneumonia on the drive over. This sport makes us cry a lot! But has also given us some of our best moments together as mother and daughter, so many hours together at the barn or towing Bullet to some comp or other or making feeds or just having fun at pony cub. The thing is, I love it. LOVE IT. How special your mother was to follow your lead when she didn't. That's love. May you feel lots of it this Mother's Day xxx (which I am spending going for a ride!)
Oh Maggie this is beautiful on so many levels. Thank you for sharing a very vulnerable part of your heart! I’m awfully grateful none of my 4 had a passion for horses. My mother a horsewoman! Legend has it she was on a horse until an hour before her wedding in 1948. I was the laughingstock of the horsey side of the family.. thrown off a tiny Shetland pony! Your mother was a wonderful woman. Em bought a book for me to fill out as my life is closer to the end… “My mother’s life” unfortunately my old eyes can’t read the questions.
I love that Mother’s Day passes to the next generation… May your Mother’s Day be a rich celebration of your motherhood. The years pass so quickly x
Adelaide 3DE is such a great event and perfect location for post event parties with friends 😁.. glad you had such a great time the weather looked perfect and what an amazing final day show jumping in the 5* .. and how special are mums
Oh Maggie. I can just imagine your dear mother giving you her all. She was a very special woman and I learnt a lot from her. Quite like my own mother really. I miss them both.
I lost my mother to cancer just after I turned 15. I have photos of her as a child, a teenager, a young woman but until today I’d never wondered about her as a person who was not a mother. You’ve inspired me to do some wondering about an early life way back in the 20s, 30s and 40s. She would have been 103 on the 3rd May.
Magic.
This was beautiful - thank you. I love the sound of your mother - what a brainwave to give you a day each … with her. That was so generous. I know what you mean about ambivalence to Mother’s Day. But, my ambivalence has a different, painful source - a 98 year old, bitter and unkind, hurtful and needy mother who’s aiming for 100!
Oh Jennie, that’s a different sort of grief, but grief it is 💔❤️
Some old women do get bitter.
A lesson to us all.
We mustn’t waste time being like that.
Love this Margie - I loved Helen Garner’s The Season (it’s about football, but really it’s about being a grandmother)
Thankyou for sharing x
Maggie, you write so beautifully, and I felt it all. My dear Mum died in 2015 and Mother's Day is a painful reminder of her absence. So now, I spend it with my Dad, we reminisce and do our best to turn it into a loving day. Thank you for sharing your memories of your Mum. OMG that trailer for Tina had me in floods of tears!
Ahh I spy my sister in law in the middle of that photo! I hope you all Had a wonderful time, so glad she took the time out from kids and broken bones to do something she loves!
Beautiful!
Cam and I talked about going to Adelaide this year, but she is the middle of exams so it wasn't to be. We watched it online and nearly cried when poor Sophia missed a jump and got eliminated when she was in second place in the 5*... we also nearly cried when Cam's XC instructor had to withdraw her horse (also in the 5*) before even starting as it developed pneumonia on the drive over. This sport makes us cry a lot! But has also given us some of our best moments together as mother and daughter, so many hours together at the barn or towing Bullet to some comp or other or making feeds or just having fun at pony cub. The thing is, I love it. LOVE IT. How special your mother was to follow your lead when she didn't. That's love. May you feel lots of it this Mother's Day xxx (which I am spending going for a ride!)
Beautiful memories of a very special mother, thank you
Beautiful column- thank you for sharing such a thought provoking piece as well as some of yourself. Just beautiful.
Oh Maggie. This is so beautiful. The Sit Spot is a gift into my inbox each week. Thank you
Beautiful. Thank you.
Oh Maggie this is beautiful on so many levels. Thank you for sharing a very vulnerable part of your heart! I’m awfully grateful none of my 4 had a passion for horses. My mother a horsewoman! Legend has it she was on a horse until an hour before her wedding in 1948. I was the laughingstock of the horsey side of the family.. thrown off a tiny Shetland pony! Your mother was a wonderful woman. Em bought a book for me to fill out as my life is closer to the end… “My mother’s life” unfortunately my old eyes can’t read the questions.
I love that Mother’s Day passes to the next generation… May your Mother’s Day be a rich celebration of your motherhood. The years pass so quickly x
Thank you Maureen. I love this memory of your mother. I think you need a little voice memo app to answer those questions. It would be so precious ❤️💫
Adelaide 3DE is such a great event and perfect location for post event parties with friends 😁.. glad you had such a great time the weather looked perfect and what an amazing final day show jumping in the 5* .. and how special are mums
It was pretty epic!
This is beautiful, Maggie. Thank you.