On this page you will find...
- A Child to Love
- World's Meanest Mother
- Standing By...
I had the meanest mother in the whole world.
While other kids ate candy for breakfast, I had to have cereal, eggs and toast. When others had coke and candy for lunch, I had to eat a sandwich. As you can guess, my dinner was different too from other children.
My mother insisted in knowing where we were at all times. You'd think we were on a chain gang. She had to know who our friends were and what we were doing. She insisted that if we said we'd be gone for an hour, that we would be gone for an hour or less.
I am ashamed to admit it, but she actually had the nerve to break the child labor law. She made us work! We had to learn to wash dishes, make beds, learn to cook and all sorts of cruel things. I believe she lay awake nights thinking up mean things for us to do.
She always insisted on telling us the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. By the time we were teenagers she was much wiser, and our lives became rougher.
None of this tooting the horn of a car for us to come running. She embarrassed us no end by making our dates and friends come to the door to get us. I forgot to mention, while my friends were dating at the mature age of 12 and 13, my old-fashioned mother refused to let me date until I was 15 and 16.
My mother was a complete failure as a mother. None of us has ever been arrested, or beaten a spouse. Each of my brothers served his time in the service of his country. And who do we have to blame for this terrible way we turned out? You are right, our mean mother.
Look at all the things we missed. We never got to take part in a riot, burn our draft cards and a million and one other things that our friends did. She made us grow up into respectful, educated, honest adults.
Using this as a background, I am trying to raise my children. I stand a little taller and I am filled with pride when my children call me mean. You see, I thank God, He gave me the meanest mother in the whole world. I think the world could use more mean moms and dads.
-- submitted by Lori Hall, Texas (in March 22, 1999 HEARTWARMERS newsletter)
Lori says:
This was first written by Orien Fifer in the Phoenix Gazette. I no longer have the date. This article fell out of my meanest mother's Bible. The article was a bit faded but none of the truth and humor has gone out of it. A bit like my mom.
I too am thankful for my mean mother and the love of God she has planted in my heart
In March of 2000, I (HOT) received an email from the TRUE author of this article.
Here is an excerpt from that email...
"I am going to forward you the original article, "Meanest Mother", that I wrote in 1967. I noticed on your web page, you had a copy that has been changed many, many times.
This was first published in the Our Sunday Visitor, a Catholic newspaper, in 1967, and again in Guideposts, a magazine, by Dr. Norman Vincent Peale. It has a copyright.
I never mind anyone using it, non-profit, as long as they use the original and my name as author. I am very pleased that you liked it enough to put on your web page, but would appreciate it, if you would change it to reflect the original. It seems to have taken on a life of its own, and I have spent many years trying to keep it corrected. I wrote this because my three children thought I was such a mean mom. I never intended to have it published, but friends and family encouraged me to submit it for publication. I have heard many stories as to how people received it. I suppose the one that touched my heart the most, was the lady who said it was read at a dinner after her mother's funeral.
Thank you for putting it on your web page. I am looking forward to reading the original there also. Thank you, Bobbie Pingaro
Orien Fifer worked for a newspaper in Arizona many years ago. It ran in his column and when people cut it out of the newspaper, they cut out his name and he was given credit. I was in contact with Mr. Fifer many years ago."
The following is the ORIGINAL version of this touching article...