Pungsnotded

Doctor Mommy

December 14th, 2008

Yesterday my mother graduated. She now has a doctoral degree.

My mom started Nursing School when I was seven years old. She also had a nine year old, a five year old and two twins girls, who were 6 months old. I am not sure how she did it, but I know that her degree changed our lives drastically. We went from a one income family to a two income family. When she graduated from Nursing school, the twins were almost three years old, and we gave them a box of Band-aids, so they would sit still in the cathedral for the ceremony. At the end, it looked like the had full length casts on their arms and legs. Later, we had the biggest party for her, at our house. We ran around and played with all of our cousins and friends. My brother and I thought it was really funny the next morning when my uncle was puking in the bushes.

Those days were hectic. My dad worked the night shift at a factory, and took over the dishes and the cooking. He helped her study and supported her the best he could. The only financial help my parents ever received was a Pell-Grant. I remember waking up in the morning, the five of us, sitting around a round table eating breakfast. My dad would set out five bowls, and five spoons. And then he would put his head down on the table and sleep, while we ate, and the little twins smashed their rice baby cereal into their hair. I remember that table well. There was no room in our kitchen for two high chairs, so they had these chairs that hooked on the table. They had to be balanced in those chairs, or the table would start to tilt. We really thought that was funny. On Thursday nights, we all showered and then piled on my parent’s bed to watch to Cosby show with my mom. Those are some of my best childhood memories.

My mom went on to get a Bachelor’s degree at a private university. She found herself having to take Physical Education classes, as a requirement. She took Volleyball, and had all 18 year old rich girls as fellow students. She studied and also worked night shifts, taking care of children in Pediatric ICU.
She always had a good sense of humor and laughed about it. We always knew how to laugh, as a family, and I think that got us through all the crazy times.

She then went on to get a Master’s Degree by working three twelve hour shifts a week at a hospital and going to school the other days. She got her Master’s degree in Nursing in only two years! I have a picture my dad took of her the minute she finished. She wrote up all that research on our very high tech, Epson computer.and there she was sitting on the carpet, surrounded by hundreds of papers and drinking a beer. She was so happy to be done. The Master’s Degree changed her career path and she has taught ever since.

And then she went on to receive a Doctorate. I have read portions of her research and it boggles my mind. I cannot imagine such tedious work. She conducted her own research which, alone took a year, and then compiled all of that information into a giant body of work. Eeeek. No thank you. She did this while working full-time, so it took her awhile, but she finished, and that is the important part.

And thanks to my mom, making the decision to go to school, all those years ago, with all those little kids! Thanks to her, she has 4 children with degrees. And my brother, who doesn’t have college degree himself, supported his own wife through college with two little kids of their own, and she graduated Valedictorian! The best thing about my mom, is she lets us all be a part of it. We were all part of it when she received her Associate’s Degree all those years ago, and we were all part of it yesterday. She is so humble about her accomplishments and she would not even answer me directly when I asked her if she would add Dr. to her title. I could not ask for a more positive example of a mother or Grandmother for her 6 grandchildren!

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