I am not a mother, but I am a grandmother. And to that end I hope that I can help influence my grand daughter the positive way my mother has influenced me! I attribute my passion for beauty in all forms and for my career as an Interior Renovator and Designer to my Mother.
My Mom!
It all started because we moved and traveled a lot as a family! This constant moving and travel as a child, always made me crave the feeling of home wherever I was, whether in a hotel room or in one of the thirty-three places I’ve lived to date. I mean, we moved ten times in the first eleven years of my life, including oversea’s to Switzerland and Spain!
It’s because of my mother that I am still sane. I remember that within the first three days in our new locations, she would unpack, put the pictures up on the walls, the books in the book shelves, curtains on the windows and our rooms were, well, the same as the last place we lived. It always felt like home almost instantly, and truly helped me to adjust to wherever we lived much more easily then most children. And, of course, it was always very beautiful.
That’s me with my mother and my aunt (with the dark hair) in Central Park
Because she kept the disruption to a minimum I learned that I could go anywhere, and do anything once my home was set up. And, because of all this moving, I also learned I could make my home anywhere. Once I turned 13 she involved me as we picked the colors of my rooms together, as well as selected the fabric for my bedspread and reading chair, and we went antiquing to find the perfect desk. As an avid reader she always made sure I had bookshelves for my many books…all of which went with me through every move.
My Mom with us three girls…I’m the oldest.
Also, my Mother loves the arts, so she exposed my sisters and me to the museums and theaters wherever we lived. Some of the highlights which I will never forget were:
- The Opera (the first one I saw was Wagner at the Lyric, a bit intense at 9). But, because of that experience, I went to see Bocelli for the first time at la Scala in Milan.
- The Tut exhibit in Chicago; we waited in line, got tickets, went to the beach, came back at our appointed time and saw it. GLORIOUS! It’s why I visited Egypt 10 years ago.
- I loved the Christmas show with the Rockets and the movie, Miracle on 34th St. that we saw at Radio City Music Hall when we lived on the east coast.
- I love dance because of seeing Swan Lake and the Nutcracker ballet at Notre Dame University, when we lived in South Bend, Indiana.
- She also loved the symphony; the one art that never really worked for me! There’s just not enough visual appeal.
- And we always went on lovely trips to incredible art museums, like the Prado in Madrid, the Louvre in Paris, Vatican City, the Met and the Chicago Art Institute.
Mom
I believe it’s because of my mother’s influence and her dedication to exposing us to the arts, plus creating a beautiful home everywhere we lived that I am a lover of beauty in all forms and have developed the eye that I have. All of which helps me in my business today.
My Mom Now!
So, thanks Mom! And happy Mother’s Day from your #1 daughter!
What about you? Do you still feel your Mothers influence? What was the best thing she taught you? Leave me a comment with your story below….I’d love to hear!
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40 Comments
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Lovely Irene, what a beautiful lady, she looks radiant. I can see where you get your gracefulness from. I remember my mom when I buy off the rack clothes and think back to when I didn’t appreciate the beautiful clothes she designed and sewed for me. Happy Mother’s Day. Happy grand Mother’s day!
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Author
You are right Erika…sometimes we have to age and gain our own wisdom to see what the real story was. So, for that reason I love aging!
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When you age, your beauty does not fade, it’s just covered by the outer appearance. I always say that beauty can be seen in three ways: the mind, the heart, and the face. So far I could see that your mother has all three of them, no wonder. Happy mothers day to you all! Cherish all your moments with your moms. LIVE and LOVE.
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Absolutely Karla, I see that you have an email address with Kryon in it. I LOVE Kryon! Have a great Mother’s Day week-end
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Yes. I usually use that as my signature in every picture I edit or photos that I take 🙂 see, I’m a photographer and a graphic artist and sometimes I do makeup for my models. Before my team ever made it at least a little well known, I was the one who usually had to scramble around to make sure the clothes my models were wearing were ok for the theme, the set had to be fixed and such. Anyway, I’m getting the hang of being an aunt-mom for my 8-year-old nephew, Christoff and his 9-year-old sister, Kyla. Though Kyla is a little bit bratty I don’t blame her. Between you and me, I’d really like to beat my sister with a stick, but hey, these two kids were produced from great gene pools and maybe that’s another reason why I want to beat my sister. Hah! Enjoying Mothers day surprise from the kids and had fun spending time with my mom. Hope you did too!
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Irene – I can’t tell you how much I love this piece! Your mother was and is beautiful and I can tell so full of life. My mother was exactly the same way – she was amazing. If I am even a tenth of the mother and person she was I will be happy. I miss her every day!
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What a lovely tribute to your mum.
Lucky you- you look so much like her!Happy Grandmother’s Day to you, and Great Grandmother’s Day to your mum!!
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and to you Slim… thanks for stopping by!
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Irene, what a great tribute to Mom! This is really special! You are amazing! xoxo your little sis
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so are you…amazing that is! I had to add the pic with you in the ocean because your face is so you! cute…: )
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Your photos are beautiful and show a legacy you carry. My mother also was devoted to the arts and took us to Broadway musicals, museums, the ballet. Her love of reading was a primary influence from my earliest years. I am intrigued that you traveled so much as a child, as that was something we did not do. My mother herself began traveling when I was a teen (she and my father took some overseas trips), and she loved travel more than anything. She showed me how you could travel independently as a woman.
Judy Stone-Goldman
The Reflective Writer
“My cat owns me, my clutter stymies me, my writing frees me. Word maven loves—and learns from—ordinary life.”
http://www.thereflectivewriter.com/blog/-
traveling independently as a woman is so important Judy. I was in the fashion business for 15 years. I must have traveled around the world over 30 times by myself. If I wasn’t comfortable before that I don’t think I could have done my job. It is a blessing to feel at home in the world!
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Hi Irene
I read our comment on Judy’s Mother’s Day post and had to read yours… clearly a common theme for all of us this week!What a wonderful memory that your mom brought along the same window coverings as you moved to make you feel at home! That’s a great touch (and a great idea for families who move frequently).
My mom was (and still is) very sport oriented and outdoorsy and I know she’d never describe herself as an expert in the arts. Yet, as children, we frequented the SF Ballet, Opera & Symphony, never missed a Nutcracker, visited museums often (also stood in line all day for the Tut exhibit! I was in jr. high at the time) and went to just about every traveling Broadway show that came to Sf. a good, well-rounded childhood for sure — thanks to my parents!
Love the accompanying images, Irene!
Heidi & Atticus
“http://www.atticusuncensored.com
“commentary to give you paws…” -
Irene – This is a beautiful tribute to your mom. She has incredible style. I bet she has an incredible presence, too!
Debbie
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I thought my husbands family moved a lot….I think you have them beat! I never understood it, when he described it, but after reading your post I think I get it! I thougth it was odd his mom was always moving and re-decorating asap but as you say it mattered…and made it home! Thanks for opening my eyes…and although I haven’t moved in 17 yrs…I see one coming….so I will keep this in mind for my kids and transitioning. Your mother is beautiful….I see where you got your elegance and flair…this is a fabulous tribute to your mother! Thanks for sharing.
Rita Brennan Freay
ritabrennanfreay.com-
It’s true Rita…it really helped me as a child…and a grown up one today, to feel like I have my base. After that, I can do anything! Thanks for stopping by.
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I can relate, I had lived in 3 countries by the time i was 6 and moved around a lot as well. I used to not like it, but now I feel it has made me a more adventurous and open person. I love your family pics, your mom looks lovely!
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It’s true isn’t it? Moving so much has helped me to be able to fit in anywhere and therefore to have a big back yard in which to play and live my life. Hated it then, love it now!
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What a wonderful tribute to your mother. I think you look like her and you obviously have been influenced greatly by her. I love that you included so many pictures of her through the years. It really gives a feeling of who she is. Thank you for sharing her with us.
Susan Berland
A Picture’s Worth
http://www.susan-berland.com -
Such a sweet sharing, Irene, and thanks especially for the photos that clearly reflect your experience of your mother and her indominatable spirit. As a minister’s daughter, we too, moved houses frequently–often within the same pastorate. And regardless of the “raw material” with which my Mom began, she always created such a warm, attractive place to live…often relying mostly on her ingenuity and talent with a sewing machine. At ninety, her home is still like a picture out of a magazine. It truly is a gift to have a mother whose creativity creates such a welcoming place to live.
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What a joy to travel down memory lane with you Irene. You mother was obviously a wonderful source of style, humor and flair and I am sure she is as proud of you as you are of her. Love the last photo of your mom laughing. So full of zest and beauty. I can see that you inherited all the good stuff.
Jennifer Duchene
Makeover Mixtress blending lifestyle laughter and Diva Dens
http://LYShome.com -
Wow! I loved the journey you took us on with the photos and the stories you shared. Beautiful! Your mother is beautiful! There have been so many posts about moms as of late…of course 🙂 And the question at the end is always what has she taught you? This question has not been easy for me to answer right away. I have to think long and hard. For this one I will leave it unanswered and journal about it to see what comes up. Thank you for sharing your life with your mom.
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It’s only after years of contemplation, reflection, therapy etc. that I’ve reached the place in my life Alara where I am choosing to remember the good times! Good stuff is there, and perhaps the older you get the easier it will be to remember it!
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Beautiful tribute – love the pictures and your mom is stunning 🙂 My mom has taught me many things…one of them is the gift persistence and determination.
Brandy -
Thanks for this wonderful tribute, Irene. The example your mom set taught you well. Everyone learns from our mothers, more than we’ll ever know. But some things are obvious. For me, it’s loving music and art, always being thoughtful, and sometimes cautious, sometimes bold. My mother was widowed at 56, then earned a teaching credential and taught Special Ed children til she was forced to retire at age 65. Talk about setting a gutsy example of wanting to serve.
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Another great mom I’ve read about this week! Your family look like models – so beautiful and obviously your mother cultivating seeing the beauty not just in the obvious and the outside. What a fabulous life full of wonder, excitement and adventure you’ve lived, Irene. I’m sure your mom wanted to make her homes comfortable for herself, but I bet she was smart enough to know that children adjust better with familiarity. Why did you move so much? Back to your question I’m avoiding…my mom was a wonderful influence in that she was and is always positive. I wish she would have trusted her abilities more to avoid the bad influences from the men in her life though-that influence taught me to be protective.
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Pat, we moved so much at first as my father sought his education through several different schools, and later on because he was transferred through his business. and yes, there are always things we would love to change in our families, but at the end of the day, their residue is still there. I’d rather focus on the good stuff at this point! feels better.
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Irene. It sounds as though you had a wonderful childhood. I didn’t leave my hometown except on vacations until i was in my teens which i think is why i traveled so much after that. Your Mom gave you some exciting and enlightening experiences growing up. Thank you for sharing them with us
Julie Labes,…The Fierce over 50 feels much younger point and click junkie loves to travel does not use a jogging stroller and before you ask this is NOT my granddaughter..Woman
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Oh heavens I wish people would stop asking me to dig deep. I’ll draw on the same as Brandy and say that my mum has taught me persistence and determination. I love my mum but we have never been a great ‘fit’ – I have accepted that now.
Louise Edington
Fearless For Freedom
http://louiseedington.com-
good for you Louise. I’ve put in my time digging deep, at this point, I choose to remember the good and make my own choices! Much easier and more comfortable. That’s the good part about aging, isn’t it?
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Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful. Her flair, her creativity, her smile, her grace. Yes, it all has been infused in you, so clearly from your writing, your design and your photos.
My mother sewed all the time; I loved the gowns she would make for me for my music concerts (give the symphony another try–keep your eyes closed and see what images your mind creates FOR you). She made all the grandkids’ Halloween costumes for years.
She stopped sewing when she went back to work three years ago, but I’m sure the machine is going to be the first thing taken out when she quits next week!
Jillian
http://www.jilliantodd.com
Jillian Todd Portrait Couture -
My mom is one of my best friends and I’m glad that even though my teen years were a bit tense between us … that I had the mental capacity and maturity to know that she is my first and forever best friend and always, in any situation, loves me and has my best interest at heart. (ok, I just made myself cry).
I am my mother’s daughter and whether via genetics or environment I am happy (most of the time) to be so much like her. The story of your mom and what you gleened from your upbringing is so sweet and fabulous. This was a beautiful, visual trek through your life. Just like you. 😉
Yvonne Hall
http://www.yvonneelmhall.wordpress.com-
thanks so much for your warm and heartfelt response Yvonne. Yes, teen years can be tough. and, one of my favorite things about growing older and finally “up” is that I can choose what I wish to focus on. I love my mom!
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Irene–
thank you for your lovely comments regarding my Mom. She knows that I correspond with you through Pinterest and your wonderful blog–and I did tell her that you send your greetings to her–she thought that was very nice of you to consider her–
My Mom presented a very wonderful childhood for me by making our home special with all of her talents such as having lovely things in our home–what they could afford was always centered around beautiful antique furniture which was purchased at auctions etc- Mom did all the sewing for my clothes-knitting sweaters–having a garden and canning and also watching over my brother Jim and myself with utmost care especially our spiriitual development–I had a secure childhood–much of which I have written to you in the past, as far as where I was raised and my exposure to the Eastern Shore of Virginia–Now–I have become the parent and my Mom the child in some ways–dependent upon my caring for her and maintaining her general happiness–glad to have this remaining time with her-
Now-on to you and your Mom–
What can I say that hasn’t already been posted–
She was and is absolutely beautiful–I showed my husband the pictures and he was struck by her beauty especially in her younger years with the comparison of how much you favor her–it is incredible to see your pictures side by side and Irene -your Mom is written all over you both in looks and the exposure to all the things that she transferred to you through her ability to create such a world of beauty for you–my dear friend–you are your Mother’s daughter, and I do compliment you!!! As you say cheers!! and thank you for your involment in my life–Lyn
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Nice tribute, Irene. I love the vintage pictures. Thanks for sharing!
Lisa
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