My Mum was a free spirit. She smoked like a chimney and drank like a fish. I am not at all like her, except in looks. I drink like a chimney and smoke like a fish.
I made albums for people to read through after her funeral.
My Mum had a child out of wedlock. Though a Catholic girl in the Fifties, she never once felt ashamed of her beautiful boy. I had my first child a definite five years after my wedding.
Mum joined the Army as a teenager; she was stationed in London. She didn’t much like it and went AWOL with a friend, running home to Nan in Liverpool. Nan gave them food, bath and beds, then took them to the police station next morning, where they gave themselves up. The Army was lenient.
We provided plenty of free spirits for her mourners. It’s what she would have wanted.
Mum loved working and hated that I loved being a stay-at-home Mum. We disagreed a lot, about a lot of things. Except that we loved each other. I always knew I could count on her.
I don’t know the half of what she got up to in her life, though I have learned a bit since she died. I am too strait-laced to share what I do know (I make rulers look like elastic bands) but, trust me: she was a free spirit. I miss her every day.
One of the times she’d have approved of me, if she’d been there.
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The Laughing Housewife 
It is good to recognise differences and accept that they exist but are no impediment to love.
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They never were 🙂
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not for you two 😉
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Your mother, so it seems made her own way, to which I say “hooray”. You too have made your own way to which I say, “hooray”. And SidevieW pretty much summed up after that.
Thanks for sharing, you made me think.
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That’s always good to hear 🙂
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all of us old’ens have/ had a flighty past..it was what made life so much fun. Young people today think they have the edge on being ‘naughty’. Not in a million years!!! That was the 1950’s
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As a fairly young ‘un, I have an unblemished past. I’m so dull.
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you are joking surely..you look like a lass with a bit of a naughty side
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No, no…I’ve always been a good girl; puritanical 🙂
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Every lifestyle is exciting and interesting in its own right, especially to the person who is living it. The most fitting tribute to a departed loved one is to “tell it like it was.” Nice post, Tilly.
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I am a Speaker for the Dead! (A reference to Ender’s Game).
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Nice tribute 🙂
It reminds me if when a friend said to another: “it’s people like you that have children like me”.
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Hehe 🙂
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Hehe 🙂
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This made me cry!
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Soppy girl 🙂
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I loved my Mom too, but she fell under the spell of prescription drugs when my brother was born and never got better before she died. Your tribute to your Mom is beautiful. Dianne
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That’s so sad.
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That’s so sad.
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Lovely share about your dear Mom, Tilly. She definitely sounds like a free spirited woman. I think that the love between a daughter and her mother is non-negotiable, even though at times, the relationship can get tumultuous. 🙂
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It was certainly that!
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So she smoked like a chimney and drank like a fish… Lol. I like the idea of serving alcohol at a funeral. Save the champagne for me!
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I thought everyone served alcohol at funerals. They do in this country, anyway 🙂
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i am sorry for the loss of your mom but so glad you have wonderful memories
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A wonderful tribute to a great sounding mum.
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I love that you love her for her real self, gave her a great send-off and a lovely tribute now.
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Wonderful that you got to know your mum, I didn’t know mine very well, even when she was still alive and so I’ve determined to do things differently with my kids.
She clearly loved you and you clearly love her and you both knew it so that’s special indeed even though you were both very different in character.
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Your mom and I would have gotten along famously!
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Most people loved her 🙂
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Tilly, this is lovely- it gives a great sense of you both, and how strong your bond was.
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Thanks, Speccy 🙂
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I think your Mom and I could have been mates….lovely memories.
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I’m certain you would have been!
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I’m certain you would have been!
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Oh no, drinking like a chimney … 😆
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That with drinking as a chimney battles me a bit – but you seams to handle it very well. *smile – there is so much proud in this post. My mum and I have been separated most of our life – when I was young she wasn’t around and when she became older I wasn’t around for many years – but still we are so likeness and sometimes when I do things I start laughing – because I do just like her. My mum gave me my free spirit and I love her for that.
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It is a play on words – chimneys don’t drink and fish don’t smoke; and neither do I (not the smoking, anyway; and not much drinking) 🙂
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Linda, I knew that … just tried to be funny .. didn”t work I can see *laughing. At least I tried.
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lol! Sorry. I guess it got lost in translation 😉
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lol! Sorry. I guess it got lost in translation 😉
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Not the first time, Linda … no worries – so long you don’t think I was rude to you. I would never be that … no reason to.
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Not at all! You are too sweet 🙂
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Don’t know about too sweet, but I’m a rather nice girl *smile – thanks a million.
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She sounds like she was a very strong woman…she would be proud of who your are despite you obvious flaws. 🙂
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I hope so.
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And less of the ‘obvious’, thank you very much 😉
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A real yin and yang tale, beautifully told…
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That was beautiful Tilly. I can see how much you miss her. It is wonderful when despite the differences she is always your mommy.
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That was a very touching tribute to your mum, Tilly and I’m sure she was as proud of you as you were of her. She was a free spirit, but then, so are you – in your own way!
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I guess I am, in my head. Not so much in my ways 😉
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You love life, and that’s a tribute to your mum, for sure. She sounds like a woman who lived her life fully embracing who she was…and that’s a quality that always resonates with me. Lovely tribute. My heart always hurts for those who have lost their mothers while they are still parenting! oxo D
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You are so sweet xx
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Here’s to your free spirited mum….
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She’d be raising a glass if she were here 🙂
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A very sweet tribute to your Mum. I’m not sure when you lost her, but it makes no difference whether it’s been a week or years. I miss my Mom, too, and I’m sure I am more like her than I ever would have believed, even though we were often like oil and water.
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That was us, too. It’s been over four years 😦
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Lovely tribute and a great share, Tilly. I had little in common with my mum too, but an enormous pride in her.
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It seems to be a common thing, from the comments. I thought it was just us. There’s a comfort in that.
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Now why did I suspect I’ll see you in it? Good job! 😆
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Sounds like your mom was a perfect example of a free spirit, and everything it comes with.
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