Tiny Talk #5 - Mother's Day: A Mother's Profound Influence

Celebrate the heart of every home in this special Mother’s Day episode. We’re honoring the strength, love, and quiet sacrifices that moms give every single day. This episode is a reminder of how deeply mothers shape our lives with their kindness, resilience, and unwavering support. Whether you’re celebrating your mom, remembering her, or embracing motherhood yourself, tune in for a dose of gratitude, warmth, and inspiration that will leave you smiling. 

Transcript

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Hey, I'm Eric and I'm here for you. for this tiny talk, I like to talk about the moms on Mother's Day. I think a mother's role in this world is immeasurable From the very beginning, she's the first voice we hear, the first comfort we know, and the first example of love that we ever experience. Before we understand the world, we understand her before we can speak. We feel her presence. And somehow from day one, she just becomes our sense of safety. And for a child, a mother isn't just a caregiver, she's everything. A teacher without a classroom, a protector without rest, and a guide who somehow knows the way even when she's figuring it out as she goes herself. She shapes who we become in ways we don't even recognize until much later in life. But her influence doesn't stop there. A mother's strength and compassion ripple far beyond childhood. Her partnerships, she helps shape the heart and character of her husband too. And let's be honest, sometimes that's a full-time job all by itself. Through patience, encouragement, and resilience. She becomes a source of grounding and growth. She challenges, supports and inspires often in ways that go unseen, but are always felt. She's the quiet force behind so many things going right, even when no one stops to notice. Mothers don't just build families. They build people. They nurture confidence, they instill values and create a foundation where love and respect can grow. Their impact echoes through generations and the choices we make, the kindness we show, and the strength we carry forward to be a mother is to carry one of the most powerful roles in the world. Not because it's easy, but because it's essential. Their value can't be measured. Only appreciated. If I can, I'd like to talk about the women in my life for a bit, because I've been lucky enough to be surrounded by some truly incredible ones. Starting with my wife, I never thought I'd be lucky enough to fall in love with somebody like her. She's smart, she strong, brave, consistently evolving, but more than anything she loves deeply Not the kind of love that's just spoken about, but the kind that shows up every day. I saw it right away in the way that she was with her children, the way she looked at them, the way she protected them, the way she put them first without hesitation. It wasn't something she turned on and off. It's just who she is. and what amazed me even more was that no matter what she was going through personally, whether it be stress, exhaustion, any emotions she carried, her love for her kids never changed, not even a little. It taught me something. It taught me what it really means to show up for the people you love. Not just when it's easy, but especially when it's not. It taught me what it means to give your all, even when you feel like you're running on empty. I watched her go through things that would've broken a lot of people and somehow she never broke. Maybe she bent, maybe there were moments she felt like she couldn't keep going, but she did. I'll be honest. There were times I could see that weight on her, times where she felt like she was slipping away from the person she wanted to be, and in those moments she taught me something without even saying a word. She taught me that when someone you love is struggling, you don't step back. you step in you. lift them up and you remind them of who they are until they can see it again themselves. That's a lesson I carry with me every day. And it's one I try to give back to her tenfold. You're not just an amazing wife, you're not just an incredible mother. you're so much more than you give yourself credit for, and I hope you see even a fraction of what I see in you. I'm proud of you. I'm grateful for you, and I'm lucky every single day that I get to walk through life with you It's my granny. Granny. I'm not sure you realize this. Don't even think you'll hear it, but in my eyes, you've always been a legend. I never saw you in anything but a bright light. You could do no wrong to me. And honestly, I'm still not convinced you ever did. You were tough. I mean, not a little tough. I'm, I'm more like the, the toughness that wasn't harsh. it was purposeful. It taught me respect, it taught me disciplined. it taught me that strength doesn't have to be allowed in order to be powerful. You, showed me something that stuck with me for life. That women are equal, if not stronger than most men out there. And you didn't just say it, you proved it. I watched you build things with your own hands, work in the garden like it was second nature. You fix what needed to be fixing and you took care of everyone around you without ever asking for anything in return. and honestly, I don't even remember you asking for help. Ever. you didn't need saving, you didn't need someone to step in. you were the one stepping in for everyone and growing up around that, it changes a kid. It taught me to never underestimate a woman. it taught me how to respect women, not just in words, but in actions. Because of you, I know the kind of man I want to be, and because of you, I know how I wanna raise my sons. You didn't just raise a family, you built a legacy. Strong women, honorable men, generations of people who carry a piece of you with them, whether they realize it or not. We could never repay you for everything you've done, but I promise I'll spend my life trying to live up to you. Now, my sisters, listen, I'm going to do this. Properly, right? Technically, you're both moms, right? One of you actually has children, and then the other one has a dog, from what I can tell, lives better than, the children of my other sister. but it's Mother's Day and we're celebrating all forms of motherhood, so congratulations to both of you. And for anyone out there thinking that, oh, Eric, this is your moment to say something heartfelt about your sisters. I mean, this is heartfelt. This is how we communicate. I could compliment them. they don't deserve it. but my youngest sister, she's been banking more and it's good. I've got notes, I'll always have notes, but I've learned sometimes you just eat the cookie and say it's tasty. And my younger sister, not the youngest, the middle child. Listen, I, I felt long and hard about this and honestly. The best thing you've done is your kids, which to, to be fair, are pretty great. So kudos to you and from what I hear, you're doing a good job. Not perfect. Nobody is, but good enough and we're proud of you. We're watching, so keep it up. I love you both, and I'm proud of the mothers and aunts you've become. Finally. Mom, I don't think there are enough words in the world to fully explain what she means to me, but I'm gonna try, you know, I didn't just grow up with a good life. I had an amazing one. And that wasn't luck. That was all her. Every sacrifice she made, every late night, every moment she chose me over herself. It built the life. I got to live a life full of love, stability, and memories that I carry with me every single day. To me, she's always been perfect, not, not because everything was easy, and not because nothing ever went wrong, but because of the way she loved. She never let me doubt that I mattered. Not once. And I'm still in awe of her, the way she handled life, the way she carries herself, the way she made hard things look easy. Even when I know now that they weren't, she protected my peace before I even knew I needed protecting. And it wasn't just the big things, it was the little things too. The way she listened, the way she believed in me before I believed in myself, and the way she celebrated my wins, like they were her own. She made me feel, seen, heard, valued. That shapes a person because of her. I know what love looks like. I know what respect looks like. I know how to keep going when life gets hard. She didn't just raise me, she built me. And the truth is I didn't understand all of it back then, but I see it now. The sacrifices, the strength, the consistency, the love that never wavered. Even when I tested that limit more than a few times, if I'm anything today, it's because of her. And if I spend the rest of my life trying to live up to even a blip of what she gave me, that's a life well lived. She's my standard. My example, one of the greatest blessings in my life. That's my mom, and there's no one else like her. So if you're lucky enough to still have your mom or someone who's been that for you. Reach out today. I know it can feel like Just another holiday. Send flowers. Make a call. but take a moment and say more because even if they already know, it still means everything to hear it. I love you, mom. Thank you all for listening and happy Mother's Day.