In the last year I’ve found myself clicking on the call “Mom” button on my iPhone almost every day. I would try to reach her in the morning sometime between 8am and 9am. Every time I called she would say, “Let me call you back, I’m on the phone with your sister.” Call it sibling rivalry but I wondered if there would ever be a day when she would say, “Hi! Hold on, let me tell your sister that I’ll call her back.” It never happened. I figured it was because my sister had been calling her every morning for that past five years at that same time and that my mom was always so excited to hear about the latest and greatest with her grandchildren.

It was only a matter of time before I realized that maybe I should call her at a different time. First of all, I would spare myself from hearing the “Let me call you back.” line and secondly I could potentially start my own scheduled daily call with Mom.

For the past year I have had my 10am with Mom. Around the ten o’clock hour every morning I have been able to call and hear her say, “Hello, how are you? Let’s talk.” To this day it is music to my ears. I’m not exactly sure why I was so intent on setting up a daily call with her. Maybe I’m just at a point in my life where her motherly advice is needed on a day to day basis. Over the next few posts I will share some of the infinite wisdom that she and all moms maintain. Sometimes it’s not about what they have to tell you. Sometimes it’s about them listening and lending you their ear. Mom, this is for you. Thank you for being such a positive radiance in my life.

- M

10am with Mom 09.21.09
“Hold the mayo… please.”

Mom mentioned that she was going to make herself a sandwich for lunch and that’s when I asked her the same question I always ask her, “Are you going to put mayo on that sandwich?” Mom hates it when I ask her that question. For some reason my conversation with Mom today was about the school lunches that she used to make for me when I was in grade school.

I was one of those kids that brought my lunch to school almost every day. I guess that is why to this day I’m so infatuated with cafeteria food – hospitals, schools you name it. I never had a chance to get sick of it I guess. So when I ask Mom about whether or not she is going to put mayo on her sandwich I can see her rolling her eyes and firing back at me, “Why? What do you care?” Sounds kind of brutal doesn’t it? In actuality Mom knows she’s the reason why I can’t stand mayo. She used to cake it all over my bologna sandwiches. 10 parts mayo, 1 part bologna. Mom’s reasoning for it all is that she was trying to “fatten” me up. Plus, times were tough growing up and bringing lunch to school was more economical. Some say that you won’t know if you like the taste of something unless you try it. I tried mayo… I tried too much of it I guess.

Looking back on it all I think I know why I always ask Mom if she is going to put mayo on her sandwich. It’s not because I want to constantly remind her of how she was the cause of something that I can’t stand the sight or smell of. It’s because thinking of the days when I had to bring lunch to school (as I admired the warmth of cafeteria food and the beauty and wonder of my rich friends’  “Scooby Doo” style sandwiches) really reminds me of my childhood and where I came from. While I may not have one jar or packet of mayonnaise anywhere near me or my fridge these days – it is a huge reminder of the humble path I traveled growing up. Mom and Dad worked hard to put food on our table. We didn’t always get what we wanted but we always had each other. We always had our family. Thank you Mom for making me not like mayonnaise so much. THANK YOU.

10am with Mom sometime ago.
“Listen with your heart and soul… not your mouth, not even your ears.”

When Mom first said this to me I had to take a step back to process it mentally. We were arguing at the time. Arguments are few and far between with us. But on this day neither of us were willing to give in. Without going into detail and now looking back on the situation I believe she had a great point to make. In the heat of an argument, each person is so set on their own beliefs and opinions that they aren’t really listening to the other side of things.

When Mom said, “Listen with your heart and soul… not your mouth, not even your ears.” I believe she wanted me to hear her side of things by opening my heart and soul to hers. Sometimes our words do not give our feelings justice, sometimes they are an injustice to what we really mean. Our ears can hear words but it is our heart and soul that processes them. When our thoughts are driven by our mouths without being filtered by our heart and soul, our most honest intentions are lost in translation.

I hear you now Mom.

“MindSet” is my chance to share with you a perspective outside the lines. No scripts, no corporate marketing techniques, no bull. Just thoughts that I’d like to put out there about this world, this company, this life – straight up.