mizChartreuse!

That’s what my mother called to my 12-year-old brother in the other room last night. Sean and I were hanging out my my mom’s place this past weekend, and when she said that, Sean, my sister and I bursted out in laughter. My mom was referring to her wireless internet modem–you know, the kind that you plug into the USB port of a laptop for “internet everywhere!” 

Last night, fellow blogger Stephanie Quilao of Everyday Tweet and I were Direct Tweeting one another about the funny things our moms say.

 

skinnyjeans Mom: My blueteeth is broken. Can you fix it? I need to call your dad. Me: You mean your bluetooth ear piece is broke. Mom: Yeah the eartooth

mizChartreuse @skinnyjeans hahaha that is funny about your mom and the blueteeth. that’s TOTALLY something my mom would say.

skinnyjeans @mizChartreuse Aren’t moms the cutest when it comes to tech sometimes? The eartooth part had me rolling

mizChartreuse @skinnyjeans So funny!! Tonight my mom told my brother: “Bring me the Internet!” i.e. her wireless USB modem

skinnyjeans @mizChartreuse “Bring me the Internet!”….LOL! Luv it. My mom says, “I’m going on the online.”

 

Oh, the stories…

 

My mother, Zindie, and I took this photo at a Christmas party a year and a half ago. “You’re cute,” she said. “You look just like me, only plumper.”

“Thanks, mom. Thanks, a lot.”

“Oh, I didn’t mean it in a bad way,” she said. “You just look younger…your face is a little rounder, more supple…” 

“Mom!”

She didn’t mean it in a bad way. She’s just never met a little word called “tact.” But since when do mothers have to be tactful with their children? I’ve kind of gotten used to it. Plus, she’s a Leo. What are ya gonna do?

 

 

Zindie’s a jill of all trades, a woman of many hats, a fighter, a survivor, a winner. She’s pretty rad. 

I was at my mom’s place in Palatine one day and she had just returned from a speaking engagement on the south side of Chicago. “Some of the kids that were there were doing this really great dance!” she exclaimed to us. “It went, ‘a-yoooooouuu! a-youuuuuuu!’”

My sister and I looked at each other. “What?” we asked.

“I don’t know, something about Superman, and the chorus went, ‘a-yoooouuu!’”

“Oh, my God, she’s talking about the Souljah Boy,” my sister, Chloe, said. Oh, God.

I, of course, had the song on my laptop and played it. “Yes, yes, that’s the one!” My mom got up and tried to do the dance. “It was awesome!”

“MOM! You don’t even know what that song’s about!” Chloe said. She proceeded to stand up and demonstrate how the actual dance went. You can imagine–my 19-year-old little sister and my mom doing the Souljah Boy in the living room. HYSTERICAL.

 

***

My girl Allie’s mom, Valerie, is my other mother. Val’s very similar to my mom: a smart woman, living a great life and doing what she wants and what makes her happy–following her calling and improving people’s lives. In the years since Allie and I have been friends, we’ve certainly had plenty of fun times with our ma.

 

My friend Kenya is the mother that I aspire to be someday. Her three children are absolutely wonderful. They’re beautiful, smart and well-behaved, and I fully credit Kenya’s (and her husband Markus’) parenting skills for their incredibly sweet children. 

 

 

More photos of and with my favorite moms:

 

One day when I was out for lunch with my mom (and severely hung over), we’re chatting and Zindie stops me mid-sentence to interrupt: “Did you brush your teeth this morning?”

No, mom, I didn’t. I passed OUT last night and barely rolled out of bed in time to meet you. And I’m sure the smell of alcohol is seeping out of my pores, too, would you like to comment on that as well?

“Mom. I’m grown. I don’t need you to tell me to brush my teeth,” I chose to say instead. Damn it! How do they always know?!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A couple years back I went to visit my mom at her studio. “Are you getting fat?” she asked me. I rolled my eyes. “Look at your boobs!” she exclaimed. “They’re huge! Are you pregnant?” Of course I (truthfully) denied all allegations.

The next time I stopped by she said, “Char, we’ve all been having dreams that you’re pregnant.”

Gah!

 

I love my mom. Even though she drives me crazy with her non-filtered comments, is technologically un-savvy, and still knows how to lay the subtle guilt-trips on me, she is my favorite person in the world. She’s worked hard every day of her life and accomplishes the so-called impossible on the regular. She inspires me to create and live a fruitful life, and has shown me firsthand that you can do anything.

All these women in my life are amazing and inspiring. Valerie’s a personal trainer who improves the lives of every person she encounters. Kenya owns her own business, calling the shots of her work life and devoting her time to raising her children to be the best they can be. 

Zindie”s even a published author. Her book, Ta-Lakata, the Tears of Africa, will be released to bookstores later this summer. She gave the eulogy at my great-uncle’s funeral in Zambia this past spring. He was the former Vice President of the country, and she moved the presidents and parliament leaders to tears–even getting endorsements for Ta-Lakata  from Nelson Mandela, former president of South Africa, and Kenneth Kaunda, the greatest Zambian president to date.

My mom also ran her own successful bridal design business in Palatine for several years, and is the founder of Light on the Hill for Africa, a non-profit organization which provides relief aid for small villages in Zambia.

I look at all these women and think, “What am I doing with my life?” I am pressed to be great, daily, as well.

I hope everyone took the time this weekend to appreciate the wonderful women in their lives, especially the ones that gave them life.

Happy mother’s day–and don’t forget to give your mother the Internet when she asks.