With certainty, I am now able to recall and duplicate these lessons to point of being able to recite language that she used, verbatim when I am rearing my children. I now repeat exact words to my son and daughter when I am providing direction to them or answering a very difficult question pertaining to life, as they know it in their young years.

Today, when I look into face of my 20-year old son, and my 19-year old daughter, I am waiting with eager anticipation to see what they will do with Life Lessons that I have instilled in them. However, unconscious to them as it was unconscious to me when lessons were being taught to me. These are tools that were passed down to me by my phenomenal mentor, Zenobia.

I used to think for years afterwards; that my mother’s her death was pointless. I was angry with her for passing and thrusting me into to a world totally opposite from nurturing, warm, loving, habitant that I was accustomed to when she was alive. I’ve learned that Zenobia’s death at tender age of 35 was not pointless, not at all. Had she not left me when she did, I would not be courageously, independent woman that I am today. Her passing, as illogical as it may sound to some, somehow shaped, molded, and prepared me to live my life and prosper.

Through her death, I’ve learned that however sad, death of a loved one is also a very necessary action. When we allow ourselves to mourn, we are able to accept to a certain extent, passing of our loved one. To extent, that one CAN accept it. But one day, after you have accepted death, accepted reality of it all. You too, will take that mental journey back.

Zenobia was my mother. You will one day remember your Mother as I am remembering mine, which is quite often. I now know that her passing is not a totality for me. She lives on through and inside of me. She lives on each time I recall or share a funny story with my children about their grandmother. She lives on when I am in my daughter’s room and happen to glance at picture frame encircled with rose petals that houses a photo of my mother that my daughter keeps on her dresser each day. She lives on each time, I make a sweet potato pie or stuffing from scratch way my mother used to make.

My remembrance of my mother living, teaching, and sharing those Life Lessons will and forever be something that no on can ever remove from my heart.I love you mommy, you were a phenomenal woman!!…I should know because now I am one too. Thank you for your Lessons of Life! I Love you.

“I first became aware of protective behaviors curriculum when a mother called me to tell me of an experience she had with her daughter. Her child, an elementary schoolgirl, had come home in tears. When she saw that her mother was home and waiting for her, she rushed to her in relief. AI wasn’t sure you’d be here, she told her mother. Her mother reassured her that she would always be there for her. In school that day, her daughter told her, her class had discussed “bad” touching including spanking.

"In course of discussion, children had been encouraged to share with teachers and classmates whether they had ever been touched in that way and girl had said that her mother had spanked her. The children were also told that people who engaged in bad touching would be taken away and put in jail. For rest of school day girl was terrified that her mother who had spanked her would now be taken away and locked up for her bad touching."

Parents, it might be wise to periodically ask your children if their teachers ask them personal questions about your family or how you discipline your children. Turning children into spies against their parents or making them afraid of their parents is not what parents pay school taxes for.

Article Copyrighted © 2005 by Joel Turtel.