My Greatest Strength

I was laying next to my mom one night during our summer vacation in New Hampshire after witnessing a fight between my parents.?We sat as a family at the kitchen table about an hour before and were told they were divorcing.? I was 11.

Plain as day I can remember what I said to her that night as we both cried.

“Mom, I will be the man of the house for you. I’ll mow the lawn and take care of things”

The reasons for their divorce don’t matter much anymore as my mom found true love with her late husband and my father passed away last year after doing his best to make amends.

My mom struggled for a number of years, and I had NO idea.?Her fun loving energetic personality was always on display and when I learned as an adult of the challenges she faced, I don’t know how she held it together.?Very little to no child support and an ex that really wasn’t involved in his kids lives. Combine that with dealing with teenagers that were not her own everyday = Super Hero!

She was one of the most respected teachers at the high school I attended and I was always so proud when my friends would brag about having her class. Regardless of the pain she was dealing with, she showed up for her family, friends and students without fail.

What I love is she still does to this day.?You can’t walk into a room with her and not smile, laugh or feel loved. Seriously, my mom has skills many business leaders (including myself) have been working to improve for years!

• She personifies authenticity and compassion
• She is genuinely curious
• She is hands down the best listener I’ve every engaged with

And all of those qualities did not just happen by accident or only through some form of learning.?She has always made a conscious choice with how she shows up for herself and others. She is my greatest strength, my favorite teacher and one amazing human being.

Love ya mom!

Your boy - JC Doodle

#womenshistorymonth