JustMOMsensations

What does a writer do with strong feelings .....write.  A tribute to my Mum. A Mother’s Circle of Life Love Song  ~ Sheri Gammon Dewling ~ Good night sweet girl, Mum said as she tucked me in each night. May my loving arms enfold you and protect you from the fright. I know you like to be awake and join in all the fun. Now it’s time for you to sleep. Tomorrow will soon come. Bless your heart, Mum told me as I learned, fell down and grew. May you face each day with kindness and continue to be true. I know the right decision isn’t always plain to know. Now it’s time for you to lead.   I’m proud to watch you grow. Good night sweet girl, I told her, as I watched her body fail. May the love of family guide you as your spirit starts to sail. I know you cherished life on earth, where your joy has always played. Now it’s time for you to sleep – no need to be afraid. Bless your heart, I said to her, as she took her last, slow breaths. May your journey of

So many of us tell our kids “you can be anything you want to be when you grow up”.  But can they? The first time I told my daughter she had limits was during the naming of Catholic Pope Francis in 2013.  She was 8 and asked if she could be Pope one day.  I told her females are not allowed to be head of the Catholic Church.  I answered her “why” with my own bias; “because some people think tradition is more important than equality”.  I’ve watched businesses, young parents, grandparents all decide what toys are for girls and which for boys.  I guess girls don’t grow up to drive cars or build buildings.  Perhaps men don’t become Fathers or caregivers.  If that is true, it is a waste of time for girls to play with cars or blocks or for boys to like dolls.  We tell them they can be ANYTHING when they grow up, yet we limit their play as children.   If their future is limitless, why don’t we limit our children less? We teach our kids to be kind to all people.  Not to be a

My generation didn’t grow up with much formal teaching or structure around giving back.  Oh sure, my parents, who didn’t have much, would share the abundance of their vegetable garden with neighbours who had less.  That was just my parents being especially kind, or so I thought.  I didn’t know then that service and sharing with your neighbour was a way of life for their generation.  People born in the depression and raising kids post World War II understood the true value of things. Those who had little to lose, lost nothing by sharing.   Somewhere in the 1980s and 90s, we became more about receiving, amassing and even judging those who had less.   Labels became “a thing”.   Two pairs of boots that looked exactly the same would not hold the same value socially, if one had a “prestigious label” and a bigger price tag.   When did the label on something become more important than the quality of something? When meeting new people we often ask questions that label them instead of

For many years, my family and I have served charities and community assistance – behind the scenes .  That is how we like it.  Not only because we believe true giving receives no recognition or reward, but because OUR karma requires us to be humble while serving those who might have a greater need than us.  We aren’t rich.  We aren’t excessive with loads of food or belongings going to waste if we don’t share. Like my 8-year old says; “we share because we care”. This fall a cause called #THECLOTHINGDRIVE consumed us.  Its purpose to help provide a starting wardrobe for the GTA’s share of 25,000 Syrian refugees coming to Canada this winter.  We came out from behind the scenes  because it was necessary to gather much needed support.  My motivation to throw my skills, time and presence to this cause was a deep belief it was about MUCH more than clothes.  It was just the first step of many, needed to help newcomers integrate in Canada.  At this particular time – those who