If you could give your mother any one thing, or if you could have given her any one thing, what would it be?

-- Anonymous, June 25, 2000

Answers

I would have given her a better, less hellish upbringing, so that she could have given me the same.

Either that, or lots of wicker furniture.

-- Anonymous, June 25, 2000

I give my mom a much, much better back so she wouldn't be in pain so much.

-- Anonymous, June 25, 2000

My mom's always wanted to fly, like Peter Pan. If I could get my hands on some fairy dust, I'd sprinkle her liberally with it.

-- Anonymous, June 25, 2000

I'd give her a less high-strung disposition. If I had a time machine and could go back in time and give her this new attitude, I wouldn't want to have changed her much because she wouldn't be who she is now. But I'd make her relax just a tad to enjoy it all so much more fully. She's cool.

-- Anonymous, June 25, 2000

An open mind.

-- Anonymous, June 25, 2000

I would have given her parents who didn't abuse her, so that she would have known more with her own children than to just hit them whenever she got angry (which was practically a daily occurence in our home). I would have given her more patience and open-mindedness when I was growing up. I would have saved her baby boy (who died just before I turned 4), so that she wouldn't have sheltered my sister and I to the point of our having to lie and sneak around behind her back to have any freedom whatsoever. I would have saved her fiance from having a heart attack and dying, because I can't imagine the pain of finding your own child dead, and then some 20 years later, finding the true love of your life dead. I would take away the pain that her fiance's son has caused since the day his father died. And finally, I would give her something to smile about - the way I know she'll smile in just a few more months when her first grandchild is born.

-- Anonymous, June 25, 2000

I'd pay off her mortgage.

-- Anonymous, June 26, 2000

I would give her a cookbook so that no one else will have to suffer through green beans boiled with strips of bacon, hamhocks and "dumplins" (hers are pasty, boiled wads of dough, again with strips of bacon). To this day she thinks that is my favorite meal and makes it 2 or 3 times when I make a visit.

-- Anonymous, June 26, 2000

I would give my mom thyroids that worked, and lower blood pressure.

-- Anonymous, June 26, 2000

I'd give my mom perfect health and magic hair that changes color on whim.

-- Anonymous, June 26, 2000

I'd give my mum her law degree, because she's got an exam tomorrow and it's stressing her out.

-- Anonymous, June 26, 2000

I'd give her her life back. I miss her terribly.

-- Anonymous, June 26, 2000

I'd give my dad cleaning and cooking lessons, and then give my dad to her.

-- Anonymous, June 26, 2000

I'd give my mom her own gigantic loft, with skylights and funky murals and parts of the floor would be concrete and parts would be hardwood. Most of the space would be a big art studio with all the tools she needs to do her quilts and stained glass and any other project that she thinks sounds cool, and off to the side would be a professional chef's kitchen with a full staff of assistants, so she could make whatever she wanted but not have to do any of the boring parts. She would have a big fluffy bed, and a TV with cable in her bedroom. And the loft would also have a roof garden, where she could plant cherry trees and grow her own blackberries, and a place to sit in the shade on sunny days, where she could drink diet pepsi and still hear the phone ring when I called.

-- Anonymous, June 26, 2000

My mom just got online last month, and recently completed her first questionnaire-survey-thingy (you know, those thingys where you answer a bunch of quessies about yourself and then mail it to your friends, who do the same thing). Mommy wrote:
>IF YOU COULD HAVE ANY JOB YOU WANTED, WHAT WOULD IT BE? >When I was younger, to be an accomplished opera singer, the best feeling >in the world was giving myself to the audience in song.

I would give her her opera career. She was an amazing soprano.

-- Anonymous, June 26, 2000

I would give my mom a huge, empty Victorian house and absolute license (and unlimited cash) to go to as many estate and rummage sales as she liked so she could fill the entire place up to the rafters with antique stuff.

I swear, that is her favorite thing in the world to do.

-- Anonymous, June 27, 2000

A paying job when she was in her twenties and her early thirties. My mom hated being a housewife, absolutely felt trapped by the responsibility of taking care of the four of us 24-7. Don't get me wrong, she loves us and did her best, but she really didn't start to enjoy her own life till she started bringing home a paycheck. She retired this January, and was going so stir-crazy just hanging out with my dad (who's enjoying his retirement) that she went back to work last month.

-- Anonymous, June 27, 2000

klee: aw! Moms with forgotten dreams always get to me.

-- Anonymous, June 27, 2000

I'd give her a grandchild.

-- Anonymous, June 27, 2000

I'd give her three wishes. That way she would be sure to get exactly what she wants. Love ya mom!

-- Anonymous, June 28, 2000

If I gave my Mom three wishes she'd use them for totally selfless endeavors. She needs to be indugled, so I'd give her a spa retreat for as long as she wanted. Then I'd give my 23 year old brother his own apartment so he would get the heck out of her hair and she could have her house back.

-- Anonymous, June 28, 2000

Lots and lots of money. Frankly. My dad died about twenty-five years ago and due to lots of unfortunate occurrances, she doesn't have much of anything. I'm glad she has six kids, because we'll take care of her.

Also, I'd buy her a limo and driver, 'cause this woman should NOT be behind the wheel herself, she's a menace! And her own plane, 'cause she loves to fly all over and visit her kids and grandkids.

-- Anonymous, June 29, 2000

I'd give my Mom more time with her Mom, who died when she was a young mother of two, at 24 years old. I know she still misses her every day.

-- Anonymous, July 20, 2000