Daring Women: Meet my Mom

There are too many strong women in my life not to include them on With Muchness. These are women who dare greatly, as Brené Brown would say. They face each day courageously, living in the moment and learning every step of the way. So I’ve decided to do a few interviews with them in hopes that you’ll be just as inspired by their wisdom.

First up is a lady very near and dear to my heart, my mother Cyndi. Now you know when people say they have the best mom in the world? My mother holds the number 1 spot on this list. She, along with my father, raised 5 children, held full-time jobs and managed to get us all to our various activities (school, dance classes, sports teams, art classes and rehearsals). I’m 30 and she still sends me care packages (she even writes cards and sends packages to one of my friends). She’s not just my mom, but my pal.

Cyndi recently retired after teaching music to elementary and middle school students. She taught for over 30 years—can you imagine? Right now, she’s enjoying some well-deserved down time, and refers to herself as a “lady of leisure.”

We decided to do an email interview. I sent her a few questions, which she promptly responded to:

Over the years, what has been your “anchoring point” in challenging times?
My “anchoring point” in challenging times has always been to move forward. Give yourself a little grace to feel the defeat, the fear, the sorrow…and then move on. Don’t dwell there. Don’t revisit. Cross the bridge.

I know your father (my grandfather) was an incredible human. What’s the best advice he ever gave you?
The best advice I received from my father was “this road goes both ways.” In other words, there are choices in life. And if you make a decision that doesn’t work out the way you envisioned, you can turn around and travel in another direction.

You taught children and teens for years and recently retired after 30.7 years. What was that like and how do you think working with young people shaped you?
Honestly I do wonder how I made it that long! It was both incredibly difficult and incredibly rewarding. Middle school students were definitely my favorites! Still moldable but with personality. As I reflect on the last few years, it is important to me to recognize that my goals for my students shifted. I became much more intent on teaching life lessons and creating good people…and I truly hope that will be my legacy.

I really admire my mom’s resilience. She has dealt with so much in her life, and instead of letting it pull her down, she’s learned to push on and persevere. Her past never defeats her, and I feel so lucky to have this influence. I’m stronger because of her.

 

 

 

 

 

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