My Mother the Sage

I remember Mom telling me something very profound, long before it ever became a plaque. I think it was in response to me observing out loud how thankful I was that she wasn't like some kids' moms, who were always chasing them out/not letting them inside after school because they were "cleaning" (which to me meant that they were more interested in appearances than they were in their kids).

Mom said, "Marianne, at the end of my life, God is not going to judge me on whether people could eat off my floors. I will be judged more on things like whether I was available for my children."