Wednesday's Woman: Three Generations

 "Family is complicated, relationships are not easy."

Today’s guest blogger, Anna Mahler, is a regular contributor to Wednesday’s Woman.  You can find her at The Mommy Padawan sharing her observations and life lessons as a wife and mother.  Today, just a few days after her birthday, she explores the complexity of the family relationships that shape our lives from one birthday to the next, as daughters and granddaughters.

Happy Belated Birthday, Anna.

Wednesday's Woman: Three Generations

by Anna Mahler

Each week, I look forward to reading all the awesome Wednesday's Woman posts here at Sperk*. I've learned about well known women doing great things and causing needed change, everyday heroes and even women who are no longer with us but through their own courage and drive, was changing lives and the world we live in before I was even born.

But some of my favorites have been the personal friends and family some have written about and I have to admit, I often feel twinges of jealousy while reading.  I wish I had a great female role model, someone personal involved in my life today.

These were some of my feelings as I sat, thinking about who to spotlight for my own Wednesday's Woman this month.

As my thoughts drifted to the women I have known, the women in my family, I started to see that maybe there is more positive there, more influence and insight than I am sometimes ready to see.

There was Marion.

I remember being very little and thinking my mother was the most beautiful woman I had ever seen.  Long, dark hair, pale skin against red lipstick, a tall and slender body always impeccably and stylishly dressed. She was everything I felt I was not with my brown skin, frizzy hair and short legs.

She was always busy, super focused on the business she and my father owned and ran. It seemed like there was nothing she couldn't do, nothing she hadn't experienced or didn't know how to handle until lung disease raged a battle none of us were ready for. One that even her super powers were unable to defeat.

From her, I learned about strength, drive, and independence. I know the work ethic I was constantly praised for back in my corporate america days came from her, something that kept me afloat over many, difficult years.

There was Elizabeth.

My grandmother lived next door and was my babysitter and after school care for many years growing up. I loved spending time at her house and still have wonderful memories of it today.  She smelled like a light perfume and fresh talcum powder and always wore lipstick as well. No matter the day or time, PBS was on the t.v., the house was warm and smelled like good food cooking and she herself was full of softness, patience and care. She taught me how to tie my shoes and tell time on her clock on the mantel. She'd let me light her incense cone in the little Buddha holder and ring the tiny bells she kept on the shelf next to it.  We watched people dance around bubbles on Laurence Welk and Bob Ross paint happy little trees.

From her, I learned warmth and softness and love.

Both of these women are no longer a part of this physical world but parts of them both are forever with me, mingled in my blood, deep in the soul, invisible tattoos burning deep within.

So often I only think of what I wish had happened, things I would have changed or the bad and difficult times.

Women are magical and complex creatures.  Family is complicated, relationships are not easy. Why would it be different for the three generations of women that we were?

But when I see the the lessons both offered and the way their lives have molded mine at times; independence, strength and drive - softness, love and warmth, what an amazing combination, these gifts they left behind.

Because they have inspired, empowered me and deeply affected who I am today, I'm honoring my mother and grandmother for today's Wednesday's Woman.

WEDNESDAY'S WOMAN IS A WEEKLY FEATURE DEDICATED TO SPOTLIGHTING WOMEN WHO ARE ROLE MODELS FOR OUR DAUGHTERS. . . AND THE WORLD.

photo credit: colorblindPICASO via photopin cc