Tuesday, February 2, 2010

Mama Bear


The other day, as I was flipping through an old issue of Reader's Digest, I came across this quote by Charles M. Schultz, author of the Peanuts comic strip:

"A good education is the next best thing to a pushy mother."

Ain't that the truth? Yes, I am thrilled to have received a wonderful education, but it definitely takes a back seat to having been blessed with my mom for a mother. While "pushy" isn't the word I would choose to describe her style, there was never any doubt growing up that she was on my side. My Dad used to proudly chuckle that if anybody dare mess with her children, they would have Mama Bear to contend with--and hell hath no fury like an angry Mama Bear.

Mom was all about wanting us kids to learn how fight our battles for ourselves. However, when the situation was overwhelming and we needed her to step in, Mama Bear was there with her claws out and her fangs ready to devour the bad guys. It really was so wonderful to live under the umbrella of my mother's protection. That fierce loyalty means the world to a child.

For our family motto, Brian and I chose three words:


It comes from the Bible's book of Proverbs:

"Don't lose your grip on Love and Loyalty.
Tie them around your neck; carve their initials on your heart."

In my mother, love and loyalty were never in short supply. I'm blessed that those qualities are part of her legacy to me, and I can't wait to pass them on to my own children.

This Mama Bear is ready and waiting for her cubs!

9 comments:

Sharon said...

Your mom fights for everyone - I love that about her!

Cherry said...

What a great Mama role model!

The Busters said...

It sounds like we were both blessed with amazing mothers. I love the Mama Bear analogy. My mom refers to my sister and me as her chicks and she is the Mother Hen. You will be an awesome Mama Bear!

Dana Cheryl said...

Your babies will be so blessed to be a part of this family you write about with such love & devotion!!

It will be a happy day indeed when we see pictures of you with your little cubs!

Kelli Ugarte said...

Tracy, you do have one special Mama and I know you will be a terrific mother yourself. Once you have your own you will all the more realize that the instincts of a mama bear are very real....the claws come out so quickly when someone threatens your "young"...
I am getting updates from Pam on what is going on in you and Brian's life and my prayers are with you both!

Greg Rodriguez said...

Love this entry and your sweet mama.

Love, Angie

Carrie said...

So sweet! Hey, what's the update on your baby? Any news of a referral? I'm ready to see that baby!!!

J said...

Such a lovely post. My mom was a real Mama Bear as well. Taught us our lessons very well, and we always knew she was on our side 100%. I found that strength inside of myself recently, to fight down any foe, be it a person, or an illness, or whatever, that might try to harm my cub. It's a good feeling to have.

My mom wrote a sweet post several years ago, about my great-grandfather being a papa-bear. :)
http://mayagranny.blogspot.com/2006/09/papa-bear.html

J said...

And now I just read the comments on my mom's Papa Bear post, and see that you read it back then! :)