I am the daughter of a woman who went to college when most of her friends chose not to. A woman who was very creative and smart, yet warm and friendly and always made people smile with her spirited laugh.
She played by the rules.
She pinned her boyfriend when he transferred to her college and married him before they graduated. She taught 5th grade for one year and wore high heels every day, even as she progressively began to show her obvious pregnancy.
She left her job when her first born arrived. She learned how to cook and use coupons so she could stay home with her children. Gifts given were handmade crafts. She learned to sew clothes for herself and her kids. She even stitched her sister-in-law’s bridal party and flower girl dresses.
When her eldest graduated college, she asked her, “what will you do next?” Her daughter retorted, “I’m not sure – what will you do next?”
So she went back to graduate school. She earned a masters degree in English, because the few times she had subbed in kindergarten classes had not gone as well as she would have liked.
In her English classes, she found she had a knack for writing poetry. She transitioned the sewing room into a writing room. She put all of her poems in a book that she self-published long before Amazon was an option.
A local school heard about her and she was hired as a Poet-in-Residence. A new career as a poet and author visiting schools had begun.
She recited and acted out her poems in her daughter’s schools. She annually visited her grandchildren’s classrooms to read her book and inspire young writers. She shared her love of writing with hundreds of children and teachers in California, Florida and New York.
She wrote more books and attended author evenings in her alligator slippers and turquoise jewelry. She encouraged kids and adults to write about their feelings in a journal or in a poem. Through writing, even the hardest to reach students often generated a glimmer into their troubled lives with her encouragement.
I am the daughter of a woman who taught me that writing is fun. Writing helps to process the difficult times and writing is self-care.
Living her life to the fullest, even after the death of her husband was an inspiration. She modeled how women can process grief and sadness, and come out on the other side to embrace love, joy and happiness again.
Thanks mom and happy birthday today in heaven. Addie Meyer Sanders is the woman in history I nominate as this year’s 2025 theme: “Moving Forward Together! Women Educating & Inspiring Generations.”
We all miss you.
Mom and Phil’s wedding – July 2010
