Last Sunday morning, Grace Sheppard invited us to submit some stories about our mothers for inclusion in a book that the St. Mark’s UCW will be publishing in the spring. Her words promoted me to think a bit about my own mother, Dorothy Manson (nee McKay), and a couple of important lessons I learned from her. Mum was raised on a farm in southern Manitoba and went on to teach elementary school in Winnipeg. She loved what she did, but like all single women who taught back in the 40s and 50s, she had to give up her job when she got married. So she moved to the farm with my dad, I came along, and a new chapter began. But she’d lost an important piece of her identity. So once I started school, she began driving into Winnipeg a couple of evenings a week to take the university courses she needed to upgrade her credentials and return to the classroom. Doing so took courage and dedication. She’d been out of school for a long time so being a student again wasn’t easy – it took her several years of hard work to get her degree – and her home and farm responsibilities were also heavy.

Somehow she managed to juggle it all. And her efforts were rewarded when she was offered a tailor-made kindergarten position that gave her a number of happy and fulfilling years back in the classroom. Over the years, I learned much from my mother’s example – including the importance of “working hard and doing what you love.” And I’d hunch that all of us can also think of someone – be it a mother, grandmother or other important female figure – who’s taught us some important lessons. So I hope you’ll take the time to think about that special person and share some of the stories and memories you have of them. For if my experience of doing so is any indication, you’ll be glad you did.