Mother’s Day in Perspective

We recently received this e-mail from one of the Mike Holt team members and we were all so touched by it we thought we’d pass it on to you.

Mike, my Mom raised seven kids ... six without the hubbie being a hubbie ... six on a $60 per week "allowance."

In the summer, before I was old enough to keep myself out of trouble, she used to take me with her on house cleaning jobs, apartments of college kids and "executives" who puked in the bath tub. I played their records ... still recall playing "Rain" and "Paperback Writer" over and over again one time while Mom worked. No way would I have ever been able to do that otherwise.

By the time she was 50, Mom had already broken, at least once, every bone in both of her feet from working 3 jobs. One time I woke up and "caught" her scraping calluses from her feet with a razor blade. I asked what she was doing and she was so near tears that I didn't get it but said "oh," anyway, as if I did. She never broke down, but she did cut herself. I quietly walked to the bedroom and cried. That was the first time I realized something was messed up.

Three weeks before she died, Mom flew out to see me. I had no money; my business was going down the tubes. I let her sleep in my bed, took the couch. By then, she was shooting insulin for the diabetes. I rented a wheel chair so we could see the sites. She told me she was going to pass on soon. And then she apologized for my not having a better life ... I hugged her, pooh-poohing it all. I didn't really make it clear that I was the luckiest guy in the world just having her as a Mom.

You only get one Mom ... do NOT abuse the privilege.

Mike Holt’s Response: Pat, I’m sure your mom considered herself the luckiest mom to have you as a son (moms are just like that). As you know, my mom did what she could to put food on the table and provide a dry place for us to sleep. Yes these were difficult times, but you know those were still special to me and the experience molded me into the man I am today.

I’m privileged that I still get to visit my mom on a regular basis and let her know how much she means to me and how much I love her.