[Maternal Instincts.]

My mother is brilliant.

She started a new job yesterday, after a path of stagnancy, promise, whirlwind destruction, and self-discovery.

You see, she spent decades with a construction company, in their financial and accounting sector.

Straight outta Compt…er…high school, she went into the business.

And there she stayed.

[Stagnancy.]

Until she decided she was in need of a change.

Off she went to St. Kate’s, backpack strapped on tight, lunchbox in hand, starry-eyed vision.

Was it in nursing that she began her college quest?

She ended up in sales and… something else. I think.

Watching her grace the stage was a moving moment.

[Promise.]

One that few daughters get.

I had the „Proud Mama“ feeling for my own…and it was superb.

Then she was recruited. Heavily.

She accepted a very fancy-schmance position.

This job required a commute to the Cities. (What?!!)

Where she worked in a skyscraper of sorts. (Double what?!!)

And went on business trips across the country. (Ok, I’m floored.)

Too bad this particular business was into selling themselves.

(Motivational sales. To bankers. The Boss Lady went on a book tour.)

Mother Dearest doesn’t buy into bullshit, though… unfortunate for them.

[Cue the whirlwind of destruction.]

So she quit.

(For her.)

Was begged to stay.

(For them.)

Stayed.

(For them.)

Then quit.

Was begged to stay.

Stayed.

Quit.

This time for real.

In fact, she hightailed it out of there—but not before managing to clear a severance package, that tycoon!

Then she took the summer off.

[Self-discovery.]

She deserved a break after that run-around, exploitation. And a long one, at that.

Everytime I’d check in, she‘d be off doing something that made my heart soar:

She was volunteering at the local art center.

Even had three of her batik pieces in the Members Only show.

And has honed her abilities since. (Who knew?!)

She was gardening.

(Blossoming.)

She was revamping old furniture.

(Constructing.)

She was visiting the horses.

(Reigniting.)

Even roadtripping.

(Exploring.)

Not to mention, she was regaining that social life that us kids had distracted her from for so long, I’m sure!

It was beautiful.

She was reinventing herself. Discovering who she really was. Starting from scratch.

Most importantly, she was taking the time to be herself.

She had slowed to a pace where the finer pleasures revolve around that which the rest of us so often forget: feeling.

How traumatic when life becomes a series of post-it noted to-do’s.

How easily we all fall into such a pace.

Now, she is tiptoeing her way back into the working world, but is doing so in a very enlightened way.

She has taken a job (for half the pay of her schmancy one) at a camp.

I watch her, engulfed in yet another „Proud Mama“ moment.

I see her nervously prepare for Day One. And Two. Soon Three.

I help her with her post-first-day-in-the-office-questions.

I hear her guard herself, afraid that this experience might emulate her last.

But I know that she’s a different woman than she was last time.

She is bold.

She is brave.

She is newly… her.

And I am convinced that she will prevail, doing whatever she deems worthy.

I am left feeling thankful.

Grateful for the perfect example of what life’s focus ought to be on…

Even more so, appreciative of the fact that she has gifted me with her genes.

The cold-hearted business world, which is ever-looming and oh so threatening, loses its danger in her shadow.

My mother:

Brilliant.