Being a mother can be like drying out the foundations of a house or mending a roof: it takes time, sweat, and money, and once it's done everything looks exactly the same as it did before. It's not the sort of thing anyone gives you praise for.

There’s only one person being buried, but she was many more women than that for those left behind.

Being a mother can be like drying out the foundations of a house or mending a roof; it takes time, sweat and money, and once it's done everything looks exactly the same as it did before. It's not the sort of thing anyone gives you praise for.

Mom. You taught me that I don't have to have dreams. I can have goals.

She goes silent. Ashamed of herself as mothers are when they realize they have passed that point in life when they want more from their daughters than their daughters want from them.

Just everything else, Mum. I just have everything else from you.