"Mother's Day: Celebrating Moms and Grandmas, Honoring Their Lives"

For many of us, Mother's Day meant gathering at our parents' home, a cherished tradition from childhood. It often involved picking up a flower and a Mother's Day card for Mom. Without fail, when asked what she wanted, the response was always the same: "I have all the food I need."

"Mother's Day was a special occasion in our home," reminisced Ruth Herriott. "We would all gather at my house, and I would prepare a hearty meal. It was a tradition, a celebration of motherhood that we all cherished.”

Like most mothers, Ruth said her five children would come to the house on Mother’s Day, and she would make a big meal. The house would fill with laughter and chatter as everyone gathered to talk and spend time together. Learning to cook from her mom and grandma,

Ruth also made big meals for her children and grandchildren, passing down the tradition of love and togetherness.

"All my Mother’s Days were special." Ruth continued by saying that the kids would get her cards and put lottery tickets in them. The excitement filled the air as we gathered around the table, scratching the lottery tickets to see who won. Sometimes, she would win some money, and sometimes, it was just fun to scratch them, adding to the joy of the day.

At the age of 88, Ruth remembered growing up, going to grandma’s house with her mom and dad. “Going to Grandma’s on Mother’s Day was always fun. My grandma lived on a big farm. There was a creek that ran through it, and we could go fishing in it.

At times, the grand

children would help their grandma with the yard work. They would take turns mowing the big yard. “Grandma had a big yard, and we didn’t have a riding mower; we had a push one to mow with.”

Smiling, Ruth remembered going shopping with her grandma at the grocery store. “I bought meat to fix her lunch: a beef roast, but grandma wanted a pork roast. Grandma loved cooking the meals, and they were always big with lots of food. The older German mom grew up with lots of meat and potatoes on the table. There had to be enough food for everyone to have seconds. “So, we got a small pork roast to cook with the beef. That is what made her happy; that is what she wanted.” I remember she always had to have extra meat for the meals she made.

Ruth talked about her grandma and the farm they lived on. There weren’t a lot of flowers around the house. “She had a big garden with lots of flowers.”

Ruth was raised on a farm, and they didn’t buy Mother’s Day cards for her mom. There were so many things to get done on the farm, and most farmers didn’t have extra money for things like storebought cards.

“We made cards for my mom in school, and I would bring them home. My kids did the same thing.”

When asked what her advice is for the younger generation and their moms, she said; visit your mom and love them. Everyone but my daughter comes in to spend time with me on Mother's Day. My daughter lives too far away in Michigan.

We also spent Mother’s Day at my grandma’s house. I remember her molasses cookies and how good they were. The recipe seems to have disappeared over the years, or our thought is that she knew it by heart and never wrote it down. She would also make sloppy joe with ground beef and tiny carrots cut into squares. I cannot imagine taking the time to cut all those carrots into tiny squares.

One of the things she taught us was how to say bless you when people sneezed in German. I still say Gesundheit when someone sneezes. My dad explained there was a high German and low German language. When she said Dummköpfe, we learned what that meant at an early age.

Like the other mothers, we always celebrated Mother’s Day with our elders, and when they passed, it became our job to step up as the matriarch of the family and host Mother’s Day. Having big meals for your family and sending food home for them, feeling like you were extending the day by sending some of the love you put into the food. Some of the old traditional recipes were used, and others were added to the menu.

These three ladies have lived through more than most of us will ever experience between WWII, the Depression, and food ration stamps to buy what food they were allowed. Each of them smiled as they talked about their mothers and their lives as moms. There were no regrets in their stories. It was a strength they gained over the years and are still using in their everyday lives now.

Mother's Day may appear insignificant in the hustle and bustle of daily life, but for the woman who nurtured and raised you, it holds profound significance. It's a moment to bask in the warmth of shared memories and celebrate the unique bond between mother and child. Even if distance separates you, a simple phone call can bridge the gap, offering precious moments of connection without the distractions of busy schedules.

Mothers are extraordinary beings, flawed yet infinitely cherished. They may not always be perfect, but they are yours, an irreplaceable presence in your life. This Mother's Day, pause to honor and appreciate the special role your mother plays, acknowledging her enduring love and unwavering support.