Thoughts of my mother
For those of you who have been out of the loop, my beautiful mother, Sally Margit Martin Patsios passed away last Friday. We had the memorial service for her yesterday, and today I am trying to pick up my life where I left it. I am not going to lie, this is the hardest thing I have ever had to do.
Mom was more then a mother, she was a friend. I am going to miss her sneaking out with us and going to lunch and swearing "not to tell daddy." She was the call at the end of a really hard day at work. Since she was also a teacher, she offered a lot of valuable insight on what I needed to do in the classroom to keep from going insane. She was always there when I had problems or frustrations with boys growing up and was always willing to lend a shoulder to cry on when I needed it. She also taught me to laugh at myself, and would always tell me when I was being "too serious."
Mom was the most loving and caring person that I ever knew. She always gave 110% in raising us, and often had to put up with a lot because understandably, we were not the easiest kids to raise. She made up songs for us, tucked us in every night and gave us more love and compassion than sometimes we felt we deserved. She put her kids first in everything she did, which is why I consider myself one of the luckiest girls in the whole world to have such a mother.
Mom more then anything pushed us to be successful. She tried her hardest to encourage all of us to do something that we enjoyed and were passionate about. Growing up, she could see that I loved music, and enrolled me in piano and voice lessons and encouraged me to play the flute in band and sing in the Spivey Hall Children's choir. She taught me to sing and came to all of my concerts, and I could genuinely tell that she enjoyed them and that it brought her much joy to see her daughter following in her footsteps. Some of my fondest memories are of me and Kristin sitting with mom at the piano as she played and we all sang together. I will always cherish those memories as long as I live.
She helped me realize that music is where I belonged, and helped me fill out my applications for college. Even in college, she was always there at concerts and other events, and was my biggest fan. Whenever she felt that I had lost my way, she would always know, and let me know very gently that I would feel better if I called my mother. In fact, if I ever went more then a week without calling her, she would either give me a call and read me the riot act about not staying in touch, or she would go a step further and drive all the way to Athens to take me out to dinner and force me to talk to her. Gosh, I am so glad that she did.
I'm not going to sugar coat it though. Mom had to go through some pretty horrible stuff in the name of us kids. I dont really want to divulge too much, but during all of our turmoils she kept her spirits high and never gave up on us. She sacrificed so much, and none of us would be where we are today without the love, support and selflessness of my mother. She was truly one of the best people I have ever known.
Now life moves on. Mom would have kicked my butt if I just stood around moping, so I am going to do my best to honor her memory by staying strong and being the best I can be, and helping my sister, brothers and father to do the same. Mom was such a big part of each of our lives and has left a gaping hole that will be hard to fill. She has some pretty big shoes to fill. (They were size 12's!) But I make this promise to do my best to live my life honoring and loving my wonderful mother. She wouldnt have wanted it any other way.
As uncle Rich said in his sermon, "There is a bit more music being played up in heaven now. God is smiling."
I will finish off with a line out of a book that mom used to read to us all growing up. I hope to one day read it to my children. (When I get around to having them)
"I love you forever,
I like you for always,
As long as I'm living
My mother you'll be."
I love you mommy.
Mom was more then a mother, she was a friend. I am going to miss her sneaking out with us and going to lunch and swearing "not to tell daddy." She was the call at the end of a really hard day at work. Since she was also a teacher, she offered a lot of valuable insight on what I needed to do in the classroom to keep from going insane. She was always there when I had problems or frustrations with boys growing up and was always willing to lend a shoulder to cry on when I needed it. She also taught me to laugh at myself, and would always tell me when I was being "too serious."
Mom was the most loving and caring person that I ever knew. She always gave 110% in raising us, and often had to put up with a lot because understandably, we were not the easiest kids to raise. She made up songs for us, tucked us in every night and gave us more love and compassion than sometimes we felt we deserved. She put her kids first in everything she did, which is why I consider myself one of the luckiest girls in the whole world to have such a mother.
Mom more then anything pushed us to be successful. She tried her hardest to encourage all of us to do something that we enjoyed and were passionate about. Growing up, she could see that I loved music, and enrolled me in piano and voice lessons and encouraged me to play the flute in band and sing in the Spivey Hall Children's choir. She taught me to sing and came to all of my concerts, and I could genuinely tell that she enjoyed them and that it brought her much joy to see her daughter following in her footsteps. Some of my fondest memories are of me and Kristin sitting with mom at the piano as she played and we all sang together. I will always cherish those memories as long as I live.
She helped me realize that music is where I belonged, and helped me fill out my applications for college. Even in college, she was always there at concerts and other events, and was my biggest fan. Whenever she felt that I had lost my way, she would always know, and let me know very gently that I would feel better if I called my mother. In fact, if I ever went more then a week without calling her, she would either give me a call and read me the riot act about not staying in touch, or she would go a step further and drive all the way to Athens to take me out to dinner and force me to talk to her. Gosh, I am so glad that she did.
I'm not going to sugar coat it though. Mom had to go through some pretty horrible stuff in the name of us kids. I dont really want to divulge too much, but during all of our turmoils she kept her spirits high and never gave up on us. She sacrificed so much, and none of us would be where we are today without the love, support and selflessness of my mother. She was truly one of the best people I have ever known.
Now life moves on. Mom would have kicked my butt if I just stood around moping, so I am going to do my best to honor her memory by staying strong and being the best I can be, and helping my sister, brothers and father to do the same. Mom was such a big part of each of our lives and has left a gaping hole that will be hard to fill. She has some pretty big shoes to fill. (They were size 12's!) But I make this promise to do my best to live my life honoring and loving my wonderful mother. She wouldnt have wanted it any other way.
As uncle Rich said in his sermon, "There is a bit more music being played up in heaven now. God is smiling."
I will finish off with a line out of a book that mom used to read to us all growing up. I hope to one day read it to my children. (When I get around to having them)
"I love you forever,
I like you for always,
As long as I'm living
My mother you'll be."
I love you mommy.