Amy Newmark - Chicken Soup for the Soul: Mom Knows Best: 101 Stories of Love, Gratitude & Wisdom

Chicken Soup for the Soul: Mom Knows Best

101 Stories of Love, Gratitude & Wisdom

Amy Newmark

Published by Chicken Soup for the Soul, LLC www.chickensoup.com

Copyright 2019 by Chicken Soup for the Soul, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the written permission of the publisher.

CSS, Chicken Soup for the Soul, and its Logo and Marks are trademarks of Chicken Soup for the Soul, LLC.

The publisher gratefully acknowledges the many publishers and individuals who granted Chicken Soup for the Soul permission to reprint the cited material.

Front cover photo of family courtesy of iStockphoto.com/Neustockimages (Neustockimages)

Front cover photo wooden frame background courtesy of iStockphoto.com/Merinka (Merinka)

Front cover photo of flowers courtesy of iStockphoto.com/alubalish (alubalish)

Back cover and interior image of picture frame courtesy of iStockphoto.com/glegorly (glegorly)

Back cover and interior image of cross-stitched ornaments courtesy of iStockphoto.com/ Yuliya Perederiy (Yuliya Perederiy)

Photo of Amy Newmark courtesy of Susan Morrow at SwickPix

Cover and Interior by Daniel Zaccari

Distributed to the booktrade by Simon & Schuster. SAN: 200-2442

Publishers Cataloging-In-Publication Data

(Prepared by The Donohue Group, Inc.)

Names: Newmark, Amy, compiler.

Title: Chicken soup for the soul : Mom knows best : 101 stories of love, gratitude & wisdom / [compiled by] Amy Newmark.

Other Titles: Mom knows best : 101 stories of love, gratitude & wisdom

Description: [Cos Cob, Connecticut] : Chicken Soup for the Soul, LLC, [2019]

Identifiers: ISBN 9781611599879 | ISBN 9781611592870 (ebook)

Subjects: LCSH: Mothers--Literary collections. | Mothers--Anecdotes. | Mother and child--Literary collections. | Mother and child--Anecdotes. | Grandmothers--Literary collections. | Grandmothers--Anecdotes. | LCGFT: Anecdotes.

Classification: LCC HQ759 .C455 2019 (print) | LCC HQ759 (ebook) | DDC 306.874/3--dc23

Library of Congress Control Number: 2018965073

Changing the world one story at a time

www.chickensoup.com

Mothers love grows by giving.

~Charles Lamb

I can think of thousands of things my mom has taught me over the years and still teaches me every day. We have argued and disagreed, but then we laugh and understand each other even better than we did before. Last week was no exception.

My mom and I joined my oldest son on his yearly trip to Columbia, Missouri, for his scholarship conference. Looking forward to a mini-vacation, we planned ahead. We have recently discovered that we loved antique shopping, and Columbia provided a host of shops to explore. One day, we found an antique shoppers paradise, with 72,000 feet of treasures to explore.

Within the first few aisles, we found a booth with an exquisite set of pink Pyrex casserole dishes. They were in perfect condition, and I fell in love. I had been looking for pink Pyrex for a while, so I was pretty excited until I saw the price tag.

My mom asked why I was not getting the set, and I explained that I could not justify the expense for something I did not need but just wanted. She reminded me how perfect they were, and how I would never find them again. But I did not change my mind and left them on the shelf.

We decided to split up since we were looking for different items. When we met at the checkout I noticed she had the pink Pyrex dishes in her cart. I wouldnt let her buy them for me, though, so I handed them to the clerk to be put back on the shelf. My mom gave me a frustrated look, and then we checked out and went back to our hotel.

The next morning, we went back to the antique mall to see more of the booths. We split up and agreed to meet in a couple hours. And once again, I found my mother at the checkout with the pink Pyrex dishes in her cart.

I hurried up to her and reminded her that I did not need those dishes. They were far too expensive and frivolous.

My mom turned to me and said, Sometimes, you just have to buy the pink Pyrex.

I felt guilty she had spent so much, but she didnt seem to mind. When we got home from our trip, I looked carefully around my house, trying to find the perfect spot for my treasure. I decided to make a spot on my bakers rack since it was central to the home, and I could view the dishes while working in the kitchen.

I had such a happy day arranging the dishes just so, and although it sounds silly, they really did bring a smile to my face. I realized what my mom meant when she said, Sometimes, you just have to buy the pink Pyrex. We get so busy taking care of everyone and everything else in our lives that we forget to treat ourselves. Taking care of our own happiness makes us project that happiness forward.

I am a very blessed woman to have such a wise mom, and I plan to tell my own daughters to buy their own version of the pink Pyrex!

Michelle Bruce

If you want to do something, go for it youve got nothing to lose.

~Louis Tomlinson

M y palms were sweating. I was sure I could hear my heart pounding. This was the worst. Why did I even think I could do this? Here was proof that I was completely out of my mind. I hated feeling this way, but I had to do what I was about to do. I sought out a small bit of my inner strength and opened my mouth.

Excuse me. I was just wondering. Would it be possible to maybe get that table over there by the window instead? I asked. My voice sounded hollow and strange to me, as if a stranger from a distance had asked the question instead of me. I waited.

No, Im sorry, but that table is reserved, the hostess replied kindly as she led me into the dining area.

As I followed her to my table, I realized that the earth had not opened up and swallowed me. I had not passed out or died of humiliation. The entire population of the restaurant was not laughing at my audaciousness for asking for a table by the window. I had asked and been told no. That was all. Nothing more.

For someone like me, who is chronically shy and insecure, asking for a different table was a huge challenge. But Ive started doing it on a regular basis because of a simple piece of advice my mother told me: The worst they can say is no.

And so, I have learned to actually ask for what I want. Ive learned to reach for my dreams and pursue my goals. Ive auditioned for plays. Ive asked men out on dates. I got a job that I wanted. Ive even gotten prices reduced on a huge variety of items. Because I asked. Because my mom was right.

Sure, I have been turned down. I cant say I have never been embarrassed. I have been, but I keep trying. I will continue to ask for what I want out of life and from other people. What could happen? The worst they can say is no.

Traci E. Langston