Caregiving Male or Female, Old or Young… We All Need a Mother’s Love! 5/7/2018 | By Terri L. Jones When we were young, we turned to our moms for just about everything: to cook our food, wash our clothes, brush our hair, take care of us when we were sick, drive us everywhere, and kiss our boo-boos (both physical and emotional)! While we may be a whole lot older, that mother-child dynamic hasn’t changed much. In honor of Mother’s Day, we’ve asked 10 “kids” (including myself) what they love the most about their moms and why they still need her every single day. Jo, 55 “I go to my mom for advice all the time because she’s smarter than I am, completely honest with me, and ferociously wants good things for me.” Martha, 69 “I still go to my 90-year-old mom to mend an occasional tear in my clothes or for old family recipes. She has the greenest thumb in the country and gives great advice on plants. We also share similar musical tastes, and just last week, I took her to the show, “Motown.” We danced out of the theater together! I have been blessed with the best mother ever and doubly blessed to still have her in my life.” Don, 58 “I don’t think any guy can ever stop needing his mom. She represents a feeling of calm for me when the world seems crazy. She reminds me of the importance of family and now, as more distant relatives have passed, she represents the generations of family that came before me.” Tracey, 54 “My mother is one of the kindest people I know. She goes with family and friends to doctor’s appointments, sometimes for hours in a day. She’s there not only for the person who is sick but also for those around them: their spouses, children, siblings. I hope she never sees me truly sick, but if so, I’d be glad she was with me, to comfort me and to help me through it.” Dee, 52 “My mother is wise and the strongest person I know. We’ve always been very close, and she is my go-to person for almost everything. As she ages, the dynamic is shifting, and I am her go-to person. That is just fine with me. I’ll gladly repay her in kind for all her love, advice and support.” Bob, 62 “My mother is home base, my rock, the center of my sometimes crazy universe. We don’t live in the same city, but when I visit, everything comes back into balance and I leave on an even keel again. Plus, she’s the best cook I know (don’t tell my wife!).” Susan, 57 “I am so blessed to still have my 90-year-old mom to turn to for many things! She is a fabulous mother and Memaw to my two children and our fur baby, Maggie. My mom is an extraordinary seamstress and a fabulous cook and baker. She also reads a lot and is always plucking articles for different family members to help us be the best we can be. I love her to the moon and back!” Patti, 53 “My mom gives great advice and taught me to ‘trust my gut’ when making difficult decisions. She is the most compassionate, kind and generous person I know with an amazing sense of humor. She taught me how to pull off a great practical joke, even though I was the subject of many of hers.” Tracie, 52 “I turn to my mom during trials and tribulations, such as sickness, traumatic experience, crisis, or just a bad day, perhaps for reassurance or just some unconditional love. There’s just something about hearing your mom’s voice! She’s also taught me how to not act my age and how to treat my own children and grandchildren.” Terri (the author), 57 “My mother has always been my greatest cheerleader. In her eyes, my sister and I have always been the smartest, most talented and prettiest girls on the planet. When I need a shot of confidence, all I have to do is call her. But she doesn’t just take an interest in her kids. She also sincerely cares about—and is often fascinated by—just about everyone she meets. As a result, everyone loves her. Especially me!” Share why you still need your mom. Read More Terri L. Jones Terri L. Jones has been writing educational and informative topics for the senior industry for over ten years, and is a frequent and longtime contributor to Seniors Guide.