I suspect every mother has at least one superpower. What that superpower for any particular mother is anyone’s guess. Further, there may even be a superhero suit lurking underneath the regular workaday clothes.
It is only in retrospect that I believe I have identified one of the superpowers my mom possessed. It wasn’t invisibility; it wasn’t being able to leap tall buildings in a single bound; and she could only fly with the help of an airplane.
It was (drum roll, please) Kleenex. Mom always had, at the ready, Kleenex, Puffs, or other tissues. Whether it was a box of tissues in my parents’ bedroom, the bathrooms, or other rooms in the house or a slightly wrinkled, but clean one she produced at a moment’s notice from her purse*, there was always Kleenex readily available. She always had pocket packs of tissues for my sisters and me if we needed one for school. As far as I remember, there never was a time when an emergency need existed that wasn’t fulfilled.
Lest it might be argued that all mothers do this, I can produce photographs of my mom with Kleenex in her lap. In fact, most of the photos of Mom in her later years, if examined closely, show a Kleenex or two (in her hands, sticking out of a pocket, or, as mentioned, in her lap).
Perhaps it was her superhero suit peeking out and showing itself after all the years.
On the other hand, I find myself stuffing tissues into my purse and pockets all the time now. I never leave home without grabbing one or two. I have learned to do this for myself; Kleenex Mom, AKA Mom, is no longer with us, but her photos (and the habits she instilled in my sisters and me) linger on.
Happy Mother’s Day!
* Because of the unwritten rule of never getting into Mom’s purse unless permission was given (and rarely was that the case), I can’t tell what all her purse contained.
Never realized this, but after reading this and thinking back, she did! ❤
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Look at the photos…and you will see. ❤
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Reblogged this on Jane Wilson.
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Thank you, Jane. ❤
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What a lovely memory to add to your book of memoirs (if you don’t have one started – you should). 🙂
I’ve had three, well four if you count The Mother-in-Law. Each had different lessons, and two out the four are still around. Super powers… that’s a tough one. Even thinking of myself as a Mother – what if any do I possess? I am not always patient. I try to be kind, and think positively.
I think just interpreting what I see into poetic verse could be enough. Even though most of my own family are, shall we say not regular readers of my vast volumes. I get a lot of ‘That’s nice’ – And that I guess from them, that is enough.
You have given me a point to ponder. And for that I thank you. Happy Mother’s Day, my friend!
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