When I was 17 years old, Mom took me down to the basement in front of the washing machine.

“I am no longer doing your laundry,” she said.  “I will show you how to sort laundry for washing, and how to use the washing machine.  And from now on, you’re doing your own laundry.”

Mom also showed me how to sew buttons and make minor sewing repairs.

Mom teaching me how to do laundry came to mind recently.  A friend, who has been married for over 40 years, does not know how to do laundry.  He never learned.  His wife always did the laundry.  His wife always cooked.  But his wife is in the hospital after suffering a severe fall.

“What am I going to do?” he said.  “I don’t know how to cook or do laundry!”

He is slowly learning how to cook frozen dinners and more frozen dinners, and his daughter comes by once a week to do his laundry.

So, Mom, thank you for teaching me how to do laundry.  Thank you for teaching me how to sew.  And most of all, thank you for all your love and support.  I love you.