Fear is not an option

My mother was a seamstress. She stitched people together like she would fabric. But she was more than just textiles. She wanted people to know later in life when she was struggling to keep her life together that she had solid stitching. She was stronger than thread. She never unraveled to anyone. She got her MBA from Capital University because it was something she wanted to do. She wanted to know people she was strong as steel—not thread.

She was not a pattern mom or wife. She was a made woman and I am still in awe of some of the things she accomplished in her life. She worked. Raised me. Took care of a household. Cleaned up after us (I am still ashamed but karma is a bitch I assure you). She made my clothes. Matching cabbage patch ones too for a spell…Countless Halloween costumes (still my favorite to this day). Curtains. Duvets. Purses.

You can’t design your family. You can’t design life. There isn’t a Mc Call’s pattern. That would be too easy.

You can learn from your mistakes and undo stitching. Laugh at designs gone wrong. Embrace the differences in outcomes you expected—and cherish those patterns in yourself and your family. Whatever they are. You are worth it. Fear is not.