My Mother's Hands

[imsorry]

My Mother’s Hands

Lately I have been thinking about my mother’s hands.

She had very fair skin, as do I. I remember the week before she passed away, which was a total shock to all of us, she was sitting in my dining room and I polished her nails. She was looking at our hands together, and she said “look how smooth and young your hands look. Your skin is so white”. She was 70 and I was 39. Her hands were full of age spots and wrinkles. She said no one had ever polished her nails for her before. I was shocked that in all our years I had never done this for her before. I told her I would do them every week. Little did I know I would never again get the chance.

Next month I will be 50. The other morning I was coming to work on the train, too tired to read my book. I looked down, and there in my lap were my mother’s hands. I can’t stop thinking about this. I wish I could put our hands together and show her how much like her I have become. I look in the mirror and I see her eyelids. We used to joke that eyeshadow got lost on her. Now it gets lost on me too.

I guess this big birthday looming before me has turned me philosophical lately.

If you are lucky enough to still have your Mom with you, please don’t take her for granted. No matter what your differences now, you will surely miss her when she is gone. I would give anything to touch those hands again!

 

[hiwaygal]

How very touching!

I would love to have my mothers hands...they are the most beautiful hands in the world.

I have to call my mom now...

 

[mrsltg]

Amazing, isn't it. I recently looked at my mom's hands. They are getting old. She is turning 59 next week and looks fantastic but her hands show her age. I makes me sad.

My own daughter said to me the other night, "I hope I die at the same time as you, Mommy. I don't want to live without you." In that moment my life was complete. The love between a mother and her children is indescribable. I am sorry you lost your mother, imsorry.

 

[Cinderellafifi]

Your words "...I wish we could put our hands together now" brought tears to my eyes. I am really missing my mother today, so your post has struck a cord. I also have her hands, and so does my DD 7, and that makes me smile.

I
Happy early 50th.

 

[Dodie]

This is a beautiful post. Just beautiful

 

[ChrizJen]

Thank you for that...


My Mom's Mom just passed away a month ago, and I know what you mean. You really think about things like that when you miss someone. And your reference to your Mom's hands is especially touching to me...My Grandma, my Mom and I used to marvel about that as well...My mom, my Gma and I all have the same hands.

It's amazing. It's like God's way of giving us a way to relate to our loved ones while they're here, and a way to remember them when they're gone. Thanks again.

-Christal

 

[Kimberly815]

My mother and I are very similar. Hands, actions, voice, mannerisms, thoughts. I never noticed quite how much until recently. She turns 50 on Nov 16th, and I will have to remind her how much I love her.

 

[belle&beast]

I don't have my mother's hands, but we had a picture taken when my daughter was little of 3 generations of hands. It is beautiful and we wanted to do it before my grandmother passed away, but she was too confused and easily upset. The thing is, my mom has my grandma's hands as I remember them as a little girl.

 

[JunieJay]

What a lovely post.

My mom died when she was quite young, and still very beautiful. I see a lot of her in my siblings, especially as they age, but not as much in myself. I think its harder to really recognize in yourself, but like you said sometimes it will just sneak up on you and catch you off guard.

to you today. And all of us who have lost our moms (or dads, or both).

 

[NMAmy]

Your post brought tears to my eyes. My dad had long, thin fingers--my hands are a more girly version of his. A week or so before he died, I was holding his hand in the nursing home. He picked my hand up and put our hands side by side and told me, "That's my girl. Your hands are just like mine."

A few weeks ago, dd (16) was sitting by me on the couch with our hands close together. She has my dad's hands, too. So, I told her that story--she's my girl and Grandpa's girl with all our hands alike.

to you imsorry and to all of us who miss our parent.

 

[binny]

 

[Stitchfans]

Oh great, thanks for making me cry. I miss my mom too. I wish I had something that resembled her, but I always favored my dad. (even though I am adopted)

Luckly I can see some of me in both of my DDs. Mostly my youngest.

 

[AuntieM03]

My mom died at 39, when I was twelve. I have a couple of her rings and they are so small. I wear a size 6 on my ring finger, and her rings will only fit on my pinky. I always remember her having small hands, but I wish I could picture them.

 

[ADisneygirl]

I loved your post. Very heartfelt and sentimental.

I also have my mother's hands. My mother is 76 and I am grateful for all my time with her.

 

[luvwinnie]

Well, you made me cry. I think of my mom's hands often. I used to love to sit by her bed in the hosp. the months before she passed and hold her hand. I can remember the FEEL of them so clearly. Hugs to you.

 

[apirateslifeforme]

I don't know what I'll do when my mother is gone. Thankfully, she's still quite young (52 to my 32), so we hopefully have lots of time together.

I noticed a few years ago, though, I'm turning into her. I said something to my then-husband and we both froze. Not only did I have her voice, but I also used her words! It was official - I'd become my mother.

I've always had her chipmunk cheeks. Now it seems I'm getting her flat butt and waist roll. Wish I had her legs. She's got the best pair of legs I've ever seen.

 

[Nancyg56]

Your post brought me to tears today. I never thoughttoo much about my mother's hands, but I look in the mirror and I see her in my face, and today when I go to her home I think I will look once again at her hands. I remember that they are a bit gnarled, she worked with her hands all her life and now that she cannot, she is feels so badly. Your post came at the right time for me, I am feeling melancholy becausee my Mom is pretty ill, and she is not going to get better, the next months promise to be hard for her. I know that she will handle it with the grace and dignity she has displayed all of her life, and her example will once again provide a model for me and for my family to live by.

imsorry, to you, and thank you for your timely thoughts. I appreciate how hard it is to share them.

 

[Rafiki Rafiki Rafiki]

It's funny how you talk about hands. One of the things I remember most about my grandmother was her hands. She was brilliant with a needle and a crochet hook. She stitched designs on pillowcases, crocheted snowflakes for the Christmas tree, and was constantly using her hands. In her later years, she suffered from arthritis, and she could no longer do her handiwork.

I noticed recently that my aunt's hands had become my grandmother's hands. My mom was adopted, and we have never known the hands that gave her to the woman I have always known as my grandmother. But I share a much plumper version of my mother's hands along with my sisters. She suffers from arthritis too, and I know that my hands will look like hers.

 

[TruBlu]

My dad passed away 17 years ago, so my mom is really important to me. She has been keeping my kids for me to work for 8 years now. Her health is fading... Your post really made me sad. I was just trying to decide if I should give her a surprise birthday party in December. She will be 59, and I was wondering if I should wait for 60. But, you have answered my question... we'll have one at 59 and 60!!! Thanks!!!

 

[imsorry]

My dad passed away 17 years ago, so my mom is really important to me. She has been keeping my kids for me to work for 8 years now. Her health is fading... Your post really made me sad. I was just trying to decide if I should give her a surprise birthday party in December. She will be 59, and I was wondering if I should wait for 60. But, you have answered my question... we'll have one at 59 and 60!!! Thanks!!!

Didn't mean to cause sadness, but I'm glad she will get two parties now!