It’s my mum’s birthday today and I couldn’t be more proud of her. She has faced all kinds of diversity with courage, grace, forgiveness and dignity. She’s compassionate, generous, forgiving, faithful, authentic, loving and so much more. She’s not perfect, who is? But her strengths far outweigh her shortcomings and I thank God for giving me to her.
When mum turned 70, my siblings and I had decided we were each going to honour her with a speech for her special day. I wanted to write her a poem. The theme was there but the words were eluding me, so I slept on it and when I woke I heard a familiar Billy Joel tune and so my poem became a song.
So with great fear and trepidation I sang it to my mum in front of 80 guests, about a quarter of them I’d never met before. I don’t know if that’s gutsy or stupid, I’ve never written a song before and I’m not a great singer, but I did it and though I was wishing the earth would swallow me up throughout my rendition, I am grateful that I had the courage to do it. Someone had said to me “No regrets” and I’m pleased to say I don’t have regrets. My aim was to honour her in front of her friends and I did just that.
Today is the 5th anniversary of that celebration and we were going to get together to celebrate but COVID put paid to that. So I thought it would be fitting to honour her by sharing this again. My Ode to Mama – She’s Always a Mama to me – sung to the tune of Billy Joel’s Always a Woman to me.
And just to explain the first verse, for those of you not familiar with the ways of an Italian Mama – you know when you were a kid and you thought you could misbehave while visiting, because your mum wouldn’t tell you off in front of company? Not our mum! Like all good Italian Mamas she had a hand signal for everything and this one involved biting her hand and a slow motion clenching of the fist that signalled trouble was coming as soon as we got home! Coupled with the glare it was enough to strike terror in the heart of any child. And if that didn’t work (my brother particularly loved to push the boundaries) there was the dreaded secret pinch!
Always A Mama to Me
If she gives you the hand you should run for a mile
She can cut through your crap with that look in her eyes
And she knows how to pinch where nobody can see
Oh when I was a child she could be scary mama to me
She knows how to love, and she never will leave you
She will ask for the truth and she’ll always believe in you
And she’ll take what you give her, forgiveness is free
Yeah her heart is so big that makes her the best mama to me
Oh, she takes care of us all, lifts us up when we fall
She never runs out of time
Oh and she never gives up and she never gives in
When she’s made up her mind
She’s not bossy she knows what you should be doing
You know you’ll be wrong so don’t bother arguing
But she cooks with her heart so her love’s plain to see
She’s the queen of the kitchen and she’s the best mama to me
Oh, she takes care of us all, lifts us up when we fall
She never runs out of time
Oh and she never gives up and she never gives in
When she’s made up her mind
She’s been kicked to the ground when life has been cruel
But she picks herself up and she’s nobody’s fool
She won’t play the victim, she has dignity
And the best we can do is become half of you
You’re the best that a mama can be
Happy Birthday Mama xxxx
About the Author
SARINA ELDER
Sarina is a Writer with a passion for Making A Difference (MAD).
As a first generation Australian who struggled with cultural identity as a child, Sarina understands the importance of Being, Belonging, and Becoming as a fundamental need in all of us, regardless of age.
As a misunderstood Creative, who was diagnosed with ADHD in her adult years, Sarina is particularly passionate about supporting others to identify and release their Creative, or the Creative in their children, and to embrace the Neurodiversity that accompanies Creativity.
Sarina believes the best way to embrace ourselves is through laughter, and is open to sharing her own stories with the hope of encouraging others.