Everyone Can Write About Mothers

 

I have heard my mother's words slip out of my mouth more and more as the years go by. I think it happens to a great many of us. Sometimes the things we say that mirror our mother's comments are ones that irked us when we were younger. Sometimes, they are bits of wisdom she offered to us.

Rather than merely repeat things our mothers said, why not write stories about your mother? Most of you who read this blog regularly know that I am a great proponent of writing your family stories. But today, I'm narrowing it down to your mother. 

You can write about your mom for yourself, for your family, or for publication. I have written many stories about my mother for our family, but a good number of them have also been published in anthologies. Writing the stories for your extended family is a wonderful gift. 

If you have any thought of writing to publish your work about the woman who raised you--it could be your birth mother, a stepmother, or a mother who adopted you--start now to submit within the next few months for Mother's Day. Magazines usually want a 6 month window prior to the holiday you are writing for. So, if it's a Christmas story, send it no later than June. For Mother's Day, get it submitted by November. 

Write funny stories about your mom, or a sad time in her life, or a time when you were in big trouble with her. How did she react? What did she look like? What expressions did she have in the situation? Did she ever lose her temper? Did her sense of humor save the day at times? 

Write about her cooking skills or lack of them. Her housekeeping--good or bad? Was she a carpool mom or did she tell you to walk to school? What were her hobbies? Her favorite movies and songs? How did she dress? 

When you write a story about your mother, include details that give a picture of her. In these stories, you want to show, not merely tell the story. Let your reader, whether family members or readers of a publication, 'see' her through your words. 

Not everyone has a wonderful mother. Some people don't get along well with their mothers. Should they write stories about her, too? I would encourage them to do so. Not necessarily for publication or even to share with other family members. They should write it for themselves to help understand the difficulties in question. If she is no longer living, it can be a step in healing those hurt feelings than tend to linger..