In honour of Mother's Day and her birthday, let me tell you a little bit about our mom. First off, she homeschooled all six of my siblings and me. Three of us all the way through high school, and three to grade 8/9. Two of whom have dyslexia, and we suspect that 4 to 6 of us have ADHD to varying degrees, along with neurodivergent issues. So, needless to say, homeschooling all six of us was a feat in and of itself. She is also a woman of faith and raised us to know and love Jesus. She also taught us the importance of eating healthy and exercising and that the easiest way to exercise is to have it as part of your routine. All of which I am very thankful that she taught us these things.
Mom has always been and will always be a mother who is for her children and will do anything she can for us. Including this winter. This past winter, Mom drove to Petawawa from Sudbury (just under 4 hr drive) every two weeks and then babysat two of my nieces for two weeks. My brother and sister-in-law are both military. My sister-in-law was away for a course all winter, and my brother had to go between Ottawa and Petawawa every two weeks for work. So mom took turns with my brother and helped take care of my nieces. She would spend two weeks getting the girls to and from the bus for school, driving them to their extracurricular activities and all the other things the girls needed. Once my brother returned for his round, she would head home and catch up with her house-cleaning clients. Mom has been a cleaning lady for the majority of my life, and for most of that time, for elderly people. She also takes a couple of her clients out for errands, appointments, and whatever else they need. She and my dad recently took one of her customers to Toronto for eye surgery. Another trip that is 4 hrs each way, including overnight in a hotel.
She has a group of friends who call themselves 'the grannies'; she is one of the youngest in the group. They do a bunch of outdoor activities throughout the year. Including biking. She will go for a 32km bike ride like it's nothing. While the rest of us are done after 15km. She knits dishcloths in her sleep and gives them away to whoever would like one or a dozen and still has a drawer full of them. She loves her backyard. She has a nice deck with a gazebo, firepit, lots of flowerbeds, a vegetable garden and a pond with fish. All the birds in the neighbourhood know about her birth bath and line up for a bath. Her vehicle is spotless, both interior, exterior and under the hood.
4 out of 6 of us don't live in town. When mom is out shopping or running errands and sees something that she thinks one of us would like, she sends a text, or sometimes she doesn't, to surprise you. And then once you go and visit, you get a pile of presents, and even though you likely know about the majority of the items, you probably forgot, and now you are opening up presents. It's like Christmas every time you go to visit.
Like most good mothers, I would imagine, she knows what makes each of us feel loved. And does so accordingly. One of my favourite things she does for me is text me the story of the night before I was born. It's a text I look forward to every year, and I ball my eyes out every time.
My sister was working 2 hrs away from my parents' house at one point and so one day they took a drive, met my sister during her lunch break and took her out for lunch.
On several occasions, my younger brother has called her up and asked her to make a cake for his friends for birthdays and other special events. My nephews girlfriend goes over and bakes with her and takes it home to my nephew. She also bakes regularly and puts cookies in the freezer, so that when company comes over, she is ready with cookies and a handful of dishcloths for you to take home.
Whenever hubby and I get up to Sudbury, which isn't often, unfortunately, because we live 8 hrs away, she takes me fabric shopping and treats me to fabric, along with telling me to go through her fabric stash to see if there is anything that I would like.
She isn't a big coffee drinker, but most of us 'kids' are. So one day about 15 years ago, she and I were out walking, and found a yard sale. Naturally, we stopped. The lady had a new coffee maker in its original box for $10. Mom looked at me and said it would be perfect for company. So we walked it home, and it lives in the basement until guests come to visit and then it lives on the counter for the duration of your visit. My hubby is one of those coffee drinkers; last summer, we visited my parents and went to Bulk Bark. Hubby wanted to try some speciality coffee, so we brought it home and tried it out. Now my mom has a bag of that coffee for when hubby and I visit.
She isn't a big dog person, but when any of the grand dogs come for a visit, she makes sure that their favourite treats are stocked up, and sees to it that they get as many off-leash runs on her favourite heighboughood trail.
Her guest rooms are stocked and ready for company. Hand cream, water bottles, chocolate, whatever you need or like, it will be there, ready and waiting for you.
So please, metaphorically or literally if you wish, while you are relaxing and reading this. Please stand with me and raise your glass and toast our mom. The one and only, Mrs. Marlene Tindall. We love you, Mom. Happy Mother’s Day and Happy Birthday, yesterday.
God Bless
~Hannah
Mom and her 4 boys. Thanksgiving 2025
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