A Mother's Nature

It's almost Mother's Day. Figured I'd take the time to let you all know a little bit more about my mother.

We (the three guys in the family) did our best to make sure she always remembered she was outnumbered. From car shopping, to electronics, to sports television, to spending money, to chores, it was always clear that the majority of our house was male. We wanted toys and fun with little work. Funny though, mom's vote always stood to win 4-3 against us. She just outdid us repeatedly. Here is how.

It wasn't just because mom is a woman, or that she is a mother. She could outvote us because we all knew better. We knew that without her the house would be dirty, our clothes would smell funny, and our stomachs would be empty. The three of us would have blown through dad's money with little regard to well being. Mom always stood firm.

I knew that I owed mom for many other things as well though. All the times I had to ask her about what to get a girl, or how I was going to survive college, or why I had to get a job. I can remember her feeding not just me, but all of my friends (an easy way to keep friends). I can remember her staying up late to watch a marathon session of season one of 24. We got to bed around 4:00 and I had to teach Sunday School at 9:00, but she stayed up.

I remember all the card games she played. The penny poker that she was always good to pay me and Jason for, but not require us to pay her. I can remember her betting me that I couldn't eat two bowls of cereal and a full meal from White Castle for $100. She payed it off a dollar a week added onto my allowance for the next 100 weeks.

I remember all the baseball games, soccer games, the season of basketball games that mom made sure not just to get me to, but to be involved in and watch. I remember the speeding ticket on Friday the 13th because Jason needed to get to a sporting practice.

I remember her re-organizing her teaching schedule while I was in college so she could get to as many of my games as possible. I remember Cream of Mushroom soup when I was sick. I remember her giving me bike signal testing before i could take the bike to school.

I remember the time she invested in me, my high school friends, my college friends, my current wife, Jason's current fiance and most importantly her husband. I remember all these things, but I can rarely remember her putting herself first. She just held to her single vote, and the three of us knew, it was worth more than what we could contribute.

I didn't have to learn many lessons the hard way. I was prepared well and am more than amply supported.

It's unfortunate that i'm in the minority in both of those situations. It is unfortunate that more people don't have a mother like I do. A mother more concerned about the people around her than herself. A mother more than willing to sacrifice to appease the other. A mother more than able to hold her own amidst the three Kemper men she lived with.

It is almost unfair that she has another Kemper woman now, and that in just a short few months, they'll have us matched in quantity. We used to at least own that. Now we'll tie in quantity and not have a chance in quality. My mom beats the three of us by herself. We have no chance now. We simply live in the fact that all three of us still understand, we are getting the better end of this deal.

Mom, happy mother's day. I'm indebted to you for more than you know. I don't take it for granted, but unfortunately, I also don't show you my appreciation enough. I get to brag about you often, but affirm you in person too seldom.

I Love You! I wouldn't trade you for any mother in the world. In fact, i've got a list of people looking for you to adopt them. They've heard how good i have it too many times not to want to be a part of our family. Thank You!