BACK PORCH by Melissa Morgan: I’m wishing my mom a happy Mother’s Day by using words to let her know how special she is.
By: Melissa Morgan
My mother always tells me to do whatever I wish, as long as it makes me happy. So, if I came home one day with a blue Mohawk and body piercings and told her I decided to become an exotic dancer for some extra cash, she’d be first in line to see my show? I don’t think so.
I can safely assume she’d have a problem with my new, body-baring career choice because I know her definition of "whatever I wish" has its limits. But the bottom line is from careers and college to friends and men she always remains supportive of my usually rational decisions, never criticizing or nagging and always standing behind me 100 percent.
So everything is peachy and we have a wonderful relationship, right? Yes, and I do value and respect my mom greatly. The only problem is that I’m not sure if she knows it.
Like most children, I often take everything my mom does for me for granted because they are things she’s always done and that I’ve come to expect. As a Mother’s Day gift to her, I’d like to dedicate this column to letting her know how much she is appreciated. After all, I’m positive she’ll read it. In true mom-fashion, she acts as my biggest fan and never fails to pass my columns and articles around to friends, family and even co-workers.
When I was a homesick college freshman, my mom never told me she was too busy when I called her five or six times a day because I missed my old life and surroundings. When I was a college senior, she also never lectured me about letting a week go by without picking up the phone, respecting the fact that I had my own life.
Now that I’m back at home once again, my mom supports my career as a struggling journalist, letting me live under her roof rent-free. When I come home from work late on deadline days, she has leftover dinner waiting.
If my friends ever stand me up on a weekend, I can always count on my mom to entertain me whether it is joining me for workout session at the gym, a Sunday hike or a shopping trip.
My mom tells me I’m beautiful when I need to hear it and gives me a lecture when she knows I’m slacking off.
Most of all though, I admire my mom for her strength. When my brother and I were young, my dad faced countless health problems. Frequent hospital stays forced my mom to face an incredible amount of stress dealing with the illness, working and taking care of us alone.
Since my dad had a kidney transplant several years ago, he has been out of work on permanent disability. My mom had to take over as the family breadwinner, holding down a full-time job and taking care of our house doing everything from fixing leaks to mowing the lawn.
I only hope to be able to live my life with half as much strength as she has. So, Mom, even though these things don’t even begin to scratch the surface of what you do, thank you.
I know it shouldn’t take a holiday to let your mom know you care, but Mother’s Day does serve as a nice reminder. Take some time on Sunday to show your own mom your appreciation or even help out someone else’s.
St. Barnabas Episcopal Church is having its annual gathering of gifts for the residents of the Shelter for Battered Women and their children. Gifts of toiletries for women and baby supplies are welcome. Donations can be brought to the church office Mondays through Thursdays from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. or Sundays from 8 a.m. to noon.
The gifts will serve as practical tokens of love and care for women for whom Mother’s Day is a very difficult day.
To my mom Happy Mother’s Day. You are the best. I’m so glad I can always count on you, and if you keep letting me save money by crashing at home, I promise to never become an exotic dancer.
Melissa Morgan is social editor for the South Brunswick Post. She can be reached via e-mail at [email protected].

