The Meanest Mother

I had the meanest mother in the world! While other kids ate candy for breakfast, I had to eat : eggs , bacon , and toast. When others had a Cokes and cookies for lunch, I had to eat a sandwich and drink milk. As you can probably guess, my dinner was much different too. But at least I wasn't alone in my sufferings, I had a brother and two sisters that had the same mean mother that I did.
My mother insisted upon knowing where we were at all times. You'd thinkwe were part of a chain gang. She had to know our friends and what we were doing. She insisted if we said we would be gone an hour- then we were to be back in an hour or less. Not an hour and one minute!
I am nearly ashamed to admit it, but she actually struck us. Not once, but each time that we decided to do as we pleased! Can you imagine someone hitting a child for disobeying? Now you can see just how mean she really was!
The worst is yet to come. We had to be in bed by nine oclock each night and up early the next day. We couldnt sleep until noon like some of our friends. So while they slept, my mother actually had the nerve to break the child labor law. She made us WORK! We had to do dishes, make beds, learn to cook and all sorts of cruel things! I believe she laid awake at night trying to think of ways to be mean to us. She always insisted on the truth, even if it killed us, and sometimes it nearly did!
By the time we were teenagers, she was much wiser and our life became even more unbearable. None of this tooting the horn of a car for us to come running. She embarrassed us to no end making our dates and friends come to the door for us. I forgot to mention that while my friends were dating at the mature age of 13 & 14, my old fashioned mother refused to let me date until the age of 15. That was only to go to school or church functions. That was maybe twice a year!
My mother was a complete failure. None of us has ever been arrested, divorced, or beaten his mate! Each of my brothers served in the military. Who do you think we can blame for the terrible way we turned out? Youre right...our mother! Look at all the things we missed. WE never got to march in a protest parade, take part in a riot, burn draft cards, or a million and one things that our friends did. She forced us to grow up God-fearing, educated and honest adults.
Using this as a background, I am trying to rear my children. I can stand a little taller and I am filled with pride when my children call me mean. Because you see, I thank God He gave me the meanest mother in the world.

submitted by: Pastor Doug DeNeul