In
their search for so many past generations, what genealogist does not find
Mother’s Day or Father’s Day just a bit more special? It kind of goes without
saying that we would not be around to look for those ancestors if it had not
been for the fact that we had those mothers and fathers.
And
no matter how many brothers and sisters we might have, we always come back to
thinking that our relationship with our parents was the most important one. To
us it was, of course!
If
you are very lucky you remember one particular incident or have one unique
photo of you and your mother. It reminds you of that unique relationship more
than any other and, in many ways, defines you as a person as well. It says you
were loved and cared for and that your mother was very happy to have you
around. You knew, or would come to learn anyway, that you could do anything you
wanted because you had the support and protection of your mother.
This
is my favourite photo of my mother and me. It was taken when I was about two
years old. I do remember it being taken by my father but not where. There is
another picture taken at the same time with Mom holding me and standing next to
my paternal grandmother, so it might have been on Vancouver Island.
In
the photo it is a beautiful, warm summer day and I’m happy because I am with my
mom and my dad is there as well behind the camera. We are not touching in the
picture but we are still as close as a mother and son can be.
We
missed a lot of Mother’s Days after she was gone – too soon. But we treasure
the time we had with her. Happy Mother’s Day
Wayne Shepheard is a volunteer with the Online Parish Clerk program in England, handling four parishes
in Devon, England. He has published a
number of articles about various aspects of genealogy and is the Editor of Relatively
Speaking, the quarterly journal of the Alberta Genealogical Society.
Wayne also provides genealogical consulting services through his business, Family History Facilitated.
