Mama Said There'll Be Days Like This

My mother, Selena Thomas, is a true Superhero! When I was five years old, I remember sitting in the kitchen and watching my mom hold my baby brother on her hip as she cooked at the stove. It was a small, green kitchen where the heat of the oven would fill then entire house, so we had one of those square plastic floor fans on at all times to try to stay cool. Out on the back patio, the washing machine buzzed to announce the clothes were clean and my mom stopped cooking to go check on the load, baby still in tow. As she went to step down into the patio area, she misjudged the threshold, tripped and began to fall forward. Somehow by the grace of God, she twisted her body to not fall on the baby and landed on a pile of clothes. My little brother was unharmed but, my mother broke her leg. And THAT, ladies and gentleman, is the measure of a mother’s love! Those are the lengths mothers will go to protect their children!

My mother has always been there for my two younger brothers and I as a voice of reason and our number one fan. One of her superpowers growing up was knowing when we were about to do something dumb. Somehow she would always find out about it and ask us if we really wanted to make that move. For example, take the time when she caught me writing love notes in my room to the kid that I had a crush on in third grade. I tried to close my Trapper Keeper as she entered the room, but I guess my face gave me away that I was up to something. She sat on the bed and engaged in some small talk, then politely pulled my little note out the notebook and read it. I. Was. Mortified! She read it, paused and said, “You know if you write this down and give it to him, he will forever have a record of how you feel. Think about if that’s what you really want to do.” This was around Valentines Day and while I did reflect on my mother’s words, I decided to move forward with my plans because I had also snuck to the store and purchased a giant, heart-shaped lollipop to give my crush. Huge mistake! When I handed him the lollipop, he immediately started jumping for joy all over the room and showing it to everyone. Ummmm, I didn’t plan on the whole class knowing about this! Mortified again! So, mom may have been on to something!

In addition to all the embarrassing moments of my life, my mom has been my rock and “emergency contact” no matter how far away life takes me. Even to this day, whether I need her to fly to Tallahassee, Florida or Los Angeles, California to drive me home after surgery, my mom has been there to nurse me back to health. She is my original ride or die, my original A-1 from Day 1, and I appreciate her more than she knows.

Two years ago, my baby brother and sister-in-love, made me the happiest person in the world when they selected me to be a God Mommy to my nephew, Baby Drew! What an incredible responsibility to know that someone would entrust you with their child if ever they couldn’t be there themselves. I’m certain that the way that I worry about that child now is just a glimpse into what it’s like to be a mother! Yet, I am humbled to accept the responsibility, and I will do my best to be for him the type of God Parent that my parents chose for me in Carolyn and Tim Terry, may they rest in peace. Talk about having a second pair of parents who would love you as their own! ?They spoke life into me and reminded me how strong I am as a woman and a leader. My godmother, especially, always had a word of encouragement “You can do it, Lonnie!,” she would say. “I know you’ll make the right decision.”

Unfortunately, I won’t be with my mom on Mother’s Day this year, but I hope that if you have the opportunity to be with your mom, please make the most of it and celebrate her for the Queen that she is in your life! And if your mom is no longer with us, please know that she is smiling down upon you right now! She has her angels of protection surrounding you and she is proud of who you are and who you still will become!

If you’ve been blessed to be a Mom, a God Mom, or Mother-figure in someone’s life, please know how precious you are and how important you will continue to be for those children, teens, young adults and beyond! Thank you for your mentorship, your words of wisdom, your keen sense of knowing what’s going on before anything is even said. Thank you for your Super Mom Powers, but most of all, thank you for just being you! I pray that you receive all the flowers, gifts, hugs and kisses that you can stand today and every day throughout the year!??

Mother’s Day Playlist

“Mama Said” – The Shirelles

“Mom” – Garth Brooks

“A Song for Mama” – Boys II Men

“Mother” – Sugarland

“I Got you” – Ciara

“Superwoman” – Alicia Keyes

“Turn To You” – Justin Bieber

“Mama Knew Love” – Anthony Hamilton

“Thank You, Mom” – Good Charlotte

“Mother” – Ashanti