A caring mom

So many studies talk about how or why your childhood experiences influence your success as an adult. We've all seen the ads on TV for First 5 which promote pre-school for children to set them up to be better learners. However, life with parents during your early years can have the most profound effect on how you deal with life, social interaction, work and so many life experiences.

Lucky me. I have wonderful early childhood memories and experiences. Until I was six I was the baby of the family. I had two older sisters. We didn't have a lot of money, but we did have a lot of love. Dad commuted to work about an hour each way. Mom was a stay at home Mom. She dedicated herself to us. We lived in Brooklyn and could walk to stores. Small mom-and-pop stores were still popular then. The butcher knew you and you knew the butcher. According to my mom, that butcher was especially fond of us girls and would often put in extra treats for us. Miss Elsie, the candy store owner was a hero to us. She would always give us penny candies and treats and was a warm and welcoming woman. We would be able to walk there on our own and Miss Elsie would let us visit her and the store for hours.

We moved to a small little waterfront community called Broad Channel in New York. It was so close to sea level that periodically during full moons or hurricanes, the water would be in the streets and flood our little bungalow house. I can remember Mom sending us off in a row boat across the street to the two story neighbors house. She stayed behind trying to keep our furniture from floating out the door. It was only a two bedroom home (and very small bedrooms at that) and by the time we were moving from Broad Channel, two brothers had been added to the family. Once we moved to Richmond Hills in Queens the last, and final child, my sister Patty was born. Then we were six.

I felt close to my mom from my very early ages through today. She was in her late twenties when I was born and in August we'll be celebrating her 95th birthday. Throughout the years she has always been a good sounding board, offering non-judgmental advice without making the decisions for me. I've gone through life knowing that she has my back. In times of tribulation, she has tried to bring me up and offer support. In times of joy, she has been there as my biggest cheerleader.

My Mom, Evelyn Dignam, has always been warm, welcoming, supportive and caring.

She has been there for each and every one of us.

Thank you Mom and Happy Mother's Day. I hope we have many more together.