Be Self-Confident

“My mother said to me,
‘If you are a soldier, you will
become a general. If you are a
monk, you will become the Pope.”
Instead I was a painter,
and I became Picasso.’”

Pablo Picasso


Growing up, I was fortunate to have a “cool mom.” She was, and still is, very generous and hospitable. She was always at events and parties, usually with food. We would come home with friends and she would have fresh-baked cookies, and cheese and cracker and fruit platters, all laid out for us. She would go with us to water parks, set up a “home base,” and let us wander the water park and have a great time. She would arrive completely outfitted to fill any need we had: drinks in coolers, fresh towels, first aid kit, and cash for the funnel cakes. She has always been a great listener. I have been blessed to have the loving and accepting friend that I have in my mom, who has always been there to take my phone calls, no matter what time of day, and listen to my dramatic rantings about the craziness going on in my life at the moment.

She has always believed in me, and with her belief, I have always thought I could accomplish anything. When I would get wary and want to quit, she would encourage me to hang in there just a little longer to see whether things would change. I was always glad that I did. Whenever I stumbled, she was there, helping me build my self-confidence.

I was listening to a program that talked about what defines a “cool mom.” The speaker said it was a mom who lets the child get away with things that a “normal mom” wouldn’t. The speaker then went on to ask, “What is normal these days?” My four girls call me a “cool mom.” I am not sure that you could say I let them get away with things, but I do try to emulate my mom by being hospitable to their friends; I always try to have home-cooked food ready and available. I also try to listen to them, give them some freedom in decision making, offer advice to them when it doesn’t work out, and encourage them to try a little longer before they quit, just to make sure their minds don’t change.

So, I would like to thank my “cool mom,” Josie Keith, for helping me become the person I am and the “cool mom” I am to my children. Happy Mother’s Day.

Picture of Ladonna Armstrong

Ladonna Armstrong

Publisher of Aiken Bella Magazine.
Picture of Ladonna Armstrong

Ladonna Armstrong

Publisher of Aiken Bella Magazine.

In the know

Related Stories

Be Conscientious | Palmetto Bella

Be Conscientious

“Infuse your life with action. Don’t wait for it to happen. Make it happen. Make your own future. Make your own hope. Make your own love. And whatever your beliefs, honor your creator, not by passively waiting for grace to come down from upon high, but by doing what you can to make grace happen … yourself, right now, right down here on Earth.” ~ Bradley Whitford April is the “Action” Issue. It is a little bittersweet for many, as we normally celebrate sports and sporting events in the spring. The weather is warmer, the flowers are in bloom — beauty is unfolding itself everywhere we turn. The outdoors beckons

Read More »
Make Your Own Luck | Palmetto Bella

Make Your Own Luck

Learn to B-Positive Have you ever wondered whether some folks are just flat-out lucky? Perhaps there are some who are wired differently? Henry Ford once said, “Whether you think you can or you think you can’t — you’re right.” The following is a great example of this quote. One of my Sunday school buds told our class a story I will never forget. As a 17-year-old, Nicky entered Boot Camp. He said that he was petrified and had a sinking feeling of failure. He dropped to his knees and prayed, “Lord, I need help. Please send me a sign to help me survive Basic Training.” With bowed head, Nicky’s eyes

Read More »
More Power To Your Elbows | Palmetto Bella

More Power To Your Elbows

It’s more British than American. And it likely originated as a toast. The phrase “more power to your elbows” meant you lifted your comrades up to continued good fortune, with many more celebrations to come (so their elbows would therefore be bent in many more celebratory toasts). But now, “more power to your elbows” is most often just said in recognition of a thing well done, with hope for even more successes. A sort of quirky wish for “good luck.” I am quite smitten with the phrase. But when it comes to traditions of good luck, I suspect most of us are more familiar with the “bending of our elbows”

Read More »
How to Say the Hard Things | Palmetto Bella

How to Say the Hard Things

Have you ever been in a situation where you are not sure how to say what needs to be said? Sometimes it’s sympathy for the loss of a loved one or an expression of sadness for an illness or unfortunate occurrence. We know the words, of course, but are they the right ones? Are they the words we would want to hear? Experts say there is no one correct way to express feelings of comfort or sadness, but it is important to convey our good intentions and concern. Many of us do this with a phone call. Finding the right words can be difficult. We want to comfort without intruding.

Read More »