I was raised by my grandmother, born 1895! When she read Mark Twain in high school he was still alive! She was a suffragette! She had 10 home births. She gave one son to world war II.
She dodged the pandemic when the family moved from Philadelphia to the death valley desert to mine soap (borax mines)
Philadelphia is widely considered the "ground zero" for the most devastating, rapid spread of the 1918 Spanish Flu in the United States. While the flu originated elsewhere, a massive war bond parade on September 28, 1918, caused it to spread like wildfire, resulting in ~12,000 deaths in just four weeks.Why Philadelphia was the Epicenter:The Parade: Against medical advice, the city held a Fourth Liberty Loan Parade, bringing 200,000 people together on Broad Street while the virus was already at the local Navy Yard.Rapid Surge: Within 72 hours of the parade, every bed in all 31 city hospitals was filled.Failed Response: City officials initially downplayed the danger, allowing the outbreak to accelerate, making it one of the deadliest epidemics in U.S. history
The deadliest of Trump's lies were a replay of this historic government disaster?
Not all of us worship the ground beneath the feet of the female who birthed us. The histrionic narcissist who was my mother — only in terms of biology — caused so much damage to me, her firstborn of five and favorite scapegoat, that my life has been anything but normal.
She raised me to be an extreme people pleaser who always put everyone else’s needs over mine, which left me extremely vulnerable to abuse from malignant narcissist partners. And boy, did they find me.
I’m 71 now, and the female finally died three years ago, but the CPTSD is still so present that I’ll never be able to have a normal relationship with a man. I’ve resigned myself to that, but Mothers’ Day and similar social/cultural constructs do nothing but leave me drained and resentful.
Living Well is the Best Revenge was on my mother’s license plate. Your mother sounds like a wonderful inspiration as was my mother. She was Joyful, a great listener, a great friend, always curious, and an avid reader. We were so fortunate that she chose to turn hardships into empathy and love.
My mother gave me a heart for the disadvantaged and neglected. She grew up poor and never forgot the dignity of every person regardless of their social standing and her own improved financial status.
My mother gave me life (not always appreciated 😏) & unconditional love. In her later hears from 96-101 years, as I was her sole caregiver, the best friendship anyone can live for. I lost her on March 11, 2026. My heart 💔has partially died.
Mother’s Day is a bittersweet day for me. While I miss my mother's fearless, undaunted, forward-thinking optimism in my daily life, I say a little prayer of gratitude that she’s not seeing this corrupt, entitled, incompetent buffoon leading her beloved country.
I believe she would be heartbroken…
So, happy Mother’s Day to all you mothers, other-mothers, aunts, sisters et al… It’s the compassionate mothering we do, that will make America great again.
My mother died at 49 after experiencing leukemia for five years. She was a saint. She still walks the Earth through the value system she gave to my brothers and me. Compassion. Racial equality. Respect for the Constitution. Tenacity. Family. When it came to parents, I won the Powerball.
What a wonderful wonderful post ❤️
Great choice of Anne Dunham
She raised a lovely man
Best wishes to you
And thank you much
Thank you kindly, Sandy.
You are so welcome
I’m a fan
🤗
Let’s see- neglect emotional, verbal and physical abuse. Complex PTSD, bigotry, racism, capitalism, maga, Israel first. Shall I continue?
Please, go on!
I was raised by my grandmother, born 1895! When she read Mark Twain in high school he was still alive! She was a suffragette! She had 10 home births. She gave one son to world war II.
She dodged the pandemic when the family moved from Philadelphia to the death valley desert to mine soap (borax mines)
Philadelphia is widely considered the "ground zero" for the most devastating, rapid spread of the 1918 Spanish Flu in the United States. While the flu originated elsewhere, a massive war bond parade on September 28, 1918, caused it to spread like wildfire, resulting in ~12,000 deaths in just four weeks.Why Philadelphia was the Epicenter:The Parade: Against medical advice, the city held a Fourth Liberty Loan Parade, bringing 200,000 people together on Broad Street while the virus was already at the local Navy Yard.Rapid Surge: Within 72 hours of the parade, every bed in all 31 city hospitals was filled.Failed Response: City officials initially downplayed the danger, allowing the outbreak to accelerate, making it one of the deadliest epidemics in U.S. history
The deadliest of Trump's lies were a replay of this historic government disaster?
Really? lol
Me too. I hate Mother's Day.
Hugs
Hugs back!
Not all of us worship the ground beneath the feet of the female who birthed us. The histrionic narcissist who was my mother — only in terms of biology — caused so much damage to me, her firstborn of five and favorite scapegoat, that my life has been anything but normal.
She raised me to be an extreme people pleaser who always put everyone else’s needs over mine, which left me extremely vulnerable to abuse from malignant narcissist partners. And boy, did they find me.
I’m 71 now, and the female finally died three years ago, but the CPTSD is still so present that I’ll never be able to have a normal relationship with a man. I’ve resigned myself to that, but Mothers’ Day and similar social/cultural constructs do nothing but leave me drained and resentful.
I understand the conflicts a Mother's Day raises, Catherine. I appreciate your honest depiction.
I'm really sorry. My mother was also awful. Not every mother is wonderful, or even benign.
Isn’t that the truth, Paula? Thanks so much for your validation and kind words. 💙
I know what it's like, unfortunately. You're not alone. 😘
This is the easiest comment yet
My mom gave me total unrequited love
She was always completely supportive, no matter what
She survived:
The Holocaust
Moving to a strange country all alone with just her husband and a three year-old child
Poverty, yet there was always enough food and money for clothing
She thrived and lived to see her three daughters, seven grandchildren, and seven great grandchildren (now 13)
She spent 59 years with her husband and together they got to travel and go see their family in Israel
If living well is the best revenge
My mom lived life to the fullest!
She will always be in our hearts
Happy Mother’s Day to you all
Living Well is the Best Revenge was on my mother’s license plate. Your mother sounds like a wonderful inspiration as was my mother. She was Joyful, a great listener, a great friend, always curious, and an avid reader. We were so fortunate that she chose to turn hardships into empathy and love.
My mother gave me a heart for the disadvantaged and neglected. She grew up poor and never forgot the dignity of every person regardless of their social standing and her own improved financial status.
President Obama
I love you ❤️
Loving parents are a lasting gift.
The older I get, and the crazier the world gets, the more I appreciate it.
My mother gave me life (not always appreciated 😏) & unconditional love. In her later hears from 96-101 years, as I was her sole caregiver, the best friendship anyone can live for. I lost her on March 11, 2026. My heart 💔has partially died.
What a gift to have a loving parent that lived such a long life.
My mother instilled a sense of fairness, and an appreciation for those who march to a different beat.
I like to tell my mother “thank you for giving me the gift of life”
Among many other things my mother taught us that as long as we have a roof over our head, food on the table, and we can pay our bills we’re fine.
Mother’s Day is a bittersweet day for me. While I miss my mother's fearless, undaunted, forward-thinking optimism in my daily life, I say a little prayer of gratitude that she’s not seeing this corrupt, entitled, incompetent buffoon leading her beloved country.
I believe she would be heartbroken…
So, happy Mother’s Day to all you mothers, other-mothers, aunts, sisters et al… It’s the compassionate mothering we do, that will make America great again.
My mother died at 49 after experiencing leukemia for five years. She was a saint. She still walks the Earth through the value system she gave to my brothers and me. Compassion. Racial equality. Respect for the Constitution. Tenacity. Family. When it came to parents, I won the Powerball.
My Mother gave me a deep appreciation of the natural world and all its nonhuman inhabitants, which today I call my relatives.
A profound, sensitive and inspiring piece. Thank you!
Thank you, Sally.
And I too reflect this Mother's Day on how Mothers are the difference that make us all better people.