Pulling on the Apron Strings: Interviews with Our Mothers

"One of my biggest regrets is that I didn’t listen more to what she was saying when I had the chance, and that I didn’t ask questions about her life or her feelings. I was 19 when she died…at the age when I thought I knew everything. Now, at 52, I realize that I don’t know squat about anything. I’m ready to ask and to listen now, but it is too late. You cannot turn back the clock. You can only imagine what those answers would be and it is with a heavy heart that I know it is not enough." – Marisa (my mother)

My mother wrote these words last year in her blog, and ever since I have been thinking about what questions I could ask her. But I kept thinking, “This is stupid, these questions aren’t good enough.” I realize it doesn’t matter if they’re good enough (besides, our mothers will still love us!), and I don’t want to wait until it’s “too late.” When I told my mother about my idea for interviewing our mothers, she jumped at the bait, and now I am acquiring a list of questions.

In high school I did a project where I interviewed my grandparents on my father’s side. I did it before it was “too late,” as my grandmother is no longer with us. It was one of the most interesting projects for school I had ever done, and I learned so much about my grandparents’ life before they were grandparents, and what was it was like growing up in rural Nova Scotia in the early days. I was fascinated by their story, which centered on my grandmother who gave up her childhood at age 13 to become a mother to my father (4 more kids followed).

I have always been interested in the lives and stories of other women. Although we may find inspiration from great female writers, artists, athletes, and actresses, just as much--if not more--can be found in the real lives of our mothers and grandmothers. Theirs is a down-to-earth inspiration (unless of course your mother happens to be Jackie O), applicable to our lives here and now, not some far off and distant dream of what we think our lives should be.

If you are fortunate enough to still have your mother with you, take the time to write down the questions you’ve always wanted to ask, and just do it. If you want, you can share it on your blog (get your mother’s permission, of course!). Add your blog in the list below or leave a comment in this post. I plan to reveal my Pulling on the Apron Strings interview on Mother’s Day May 9th.

If you plan to participate, please help spread the word by copying and pasting the badge below on your blog and link back to this post.

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Update: (from my mom): Even if your mother is no longer with you, you can post the questions you wish you would have asked while you had the chance. - Marisa