I will be sad to see my Anniversary Week (and all your lovely comments) come to an end ... and yet so very happy to be on my way to Alabama today to meet Natalie Chanin and spend a weekend sewing with her.
Today's giveaway: a hardcover copy of Natalie's first book, Alabama Stitch Book. If you enjoy sewing or cooking or reading or looking at pictures, you will love this book. (For the record, I first saw the Alabama Chanin collection at Barney's in the middle of May, 2008 -- two years almost to the day of my trip this weekend.) Next week: stories + pictures from my journey.
Today's question: have you had a mentor in your life? Your mom, an older friend, a colleague at work, another parent? Tell me more!
A mentor? I don't know if I'd call her my mentor, but my mom is most definitely my role model. If I can be half the woman she is, half as strong as she is, half the mom she is, I will be the best person I can be.
Thanks for a chance to pay tribute to my mom, and thanks for another chance to win a prize!
Posted by: krys72599 | May 21, 2010 at 09:11 AM
I have so many amazing women in my life that I look up to and for that I am so lucky. The top of my list though is my mom. Her faith and courage through so many situations amazes me.
I'm sad to see the end of your anniversary week too. I love reading all the comments and have learned so much. My book list grew...a lot!
Posted by: Amy | May 21, 2010 at 09:16 AM
My mentor is my mother! She's a rock, and I hope one day to have a daughter that can find strength in her as well!
Posted by: alison chandler | May 21, 2010 at 09:35 AM
I have a former boss who was an incredible mentor. She let me grow the position to so much more than the job description, which gave me satisfaction (and success). She trusted me, and I, in turn, trusted her. Every subsequent boss has had hard shoes to fill. ;)
Posted by: jen | May 21, 2010 at 10:02 AM
Yay! What a fun book. My Daddy was born and raised in Alabama, and he has always been such a great example of the old fashioned southern gentleman.
If I were to pick a role model (the definition for me being someone who changed my life profoundly) it would be my mother-in-law. I know, sounds strange. I have a theory that we either get a great mom or a great mother-in-law. I haven't tested this theory in a controlled study, but so far, everyone I've come in contact with has one or the other. For me it was my mom-in-law. She decided when her boys were young that she would never call her daughters "in-laws" because she would love them like her own daughters, and she did just that. She would introduce me as her daughter, and she loved and treated me as such. It was strange, because my own mom was unable to nurture, so this kind of attention wasn't comfortable at first. But she was consistent, and I matured and toward the end of my healing from my childhood, I was aware that she was a sweet blessing in my life. The greatest gift she gave me was the example of unconditional love--something I had not had a real-life model of. That has to be the most profound thing we learn in this life for it is also the way our God loves us. Without this understanding, it is hard to understand the concept of a Higher Power. There were many other things she taught me, but I will be forever grateful that I had a "mom" who nurtured and loved me, faults and all. I am giving that to my own daughters, and even though their wonderful grandma has been gone the past 4 years, her spirit lives in all of us as we love each other the way she loved.
Posted by: MelissaPete | May 21, 2010 at 10:50 AM
I would have to say that my mom has been my greatest role model in my life. There are also women in my church that haven't necessarily been mentors, but have been an example and have spoken words of wisdom into my life, of which I'm thankful for.
Posted by: Rachel Schumacher | May 21, 2010 at 11:01 AM
I hope you have fun in Alabama. (I live in Huntsville!) If you like architecture, there is a really nice Frank Lloyd Wright house that you will be close to called the Rosenbaum house. It's worth seeing.
The person who has impacted me the most is my husband. He has done the most to make me a better person.
Posted by: Anne | May 21, 2010 at 11:05 AM
Have a great trip! I have had several mentors. My mother was the first one, but I have also met great women in school and in church. They have all affected my personality! :-)
Posted by: Monnah | May 21, 2010 at 11:09 AM
My grandma, without a doubt. Sad thing is, I didn't realize it until she passed away. I think about her alot.
Posted by: Lisa S. | May 21, 2010 at 11:32 AM
no official mentors, but lots of unofficial ones: my mom, lots of girlfriends ahead of me in this parenting craziness, a few older women from church . . . lovely ladies all of them!
blessings (and a safe, wonderful trip!)
shana
Posted by: shana | May 21, 2010 at 11:40 AM
Great book! And have a great trip! An official mentor for me was an RD I had in college who showed and told me what it meant to be an adult. And now I have a good friend who is a spiritual mentor who prays for and with me.
Posted by: carmen | May 21, 2010 at 12:28 PM
I would have to say that my mentor is my mom! She and I had a rocky time in middle school and high school, but I'm so grateful that now we're close and she doesn't hold all those years against me!
Posted by: Kate | May 21, 2010 at 12:36 PM
I've never really had a mentor in my life, although, I've always wanted one. My husband has probably been the one who has affected my life the most, though. Before I met him, I was very pessimistic. Now my outlook on life is a lot better.
Posted by: Veronica | May 21, 2010 at 01:38 PM
No, but if you have extras send them my way.
Posted by: Michele | May 21, 2010 at 02:08 PM
i was looking at this very book, a few weeks ago. it looked amazing.
as for a mentor... mrs. beyer, my 4th grade teacher. the first day of school, she saw i could barely keep up, with the advanced work. she took my face in her hands, and told me, i could do anything. i believed her and gave it my all. and i made it through. i wish i could see her now, to tell her how she made a difference, in my life.
: )
i love your blog. it's beautiful.
Posted by: christina | May 21, 2010 at 03:39 PM
I am so thrilled that you are going to meet Ms. Chanin!! Someday I hope to go to one of those weekends... can't wait to hear and see photos on your blog about everything!!
PS I have both books, so no need to enter me.
Posted by: Tiffany | May 21, 2010 at 03:42 PM
My parents! I didn't actually realize this until I became a parent myself...I hope I can give my kiddos a wonderful childhood, like the one I had.
Posted by: Kilee | May 21, 2010 at 04:31 PM
I don't have a mentor but I have always wanted one, so badly that I have tried to set up mentorship programs in almost EVERY organization I have been a part of hoping I could plant the seed. I guess my "unofficial" mentors would be the artists I admire, the poets I read, and the giant pile of quotations I keep for referencing when I need a "push".
I also think my cat, Delilah (who has been with me for 13 years), is sort of a feline mentor- on the roughest days, she manages to get me out of bed. She's changed my life so I guess she's been a kind of mentor :)
Posted by: chel | May 21, 2010 at 05:41 PM
Of late (and YES I'm late to the game!), my mentor has been my aunt. She is an elementary school teacher and is getting ready to retire. I have been working with her in her classroom for the last several months, and oh, what an inspiration she is! She has encouraged me and guided me in my desire to become a teacher and by simply observing her interact with her students. I know I can't walk in her footsteps, but I would be so proud if I could be even one iota like her.
Posted by: christene | May 21, 2010 at 06:27 PM
oh you have no idea how much i want that book! i've checked it out numerous times from the library.
as for a mentor, i met a woman last year who is the only person i've ever met that made me realize my need for a mentor. she's old enough to be my mother, and she's raising her grand-daughter in a way i wish i had been wise enough to raise my kids from the beginning. whole foods, no media, cello lessons, traveling. i have so much to learn from her, and i so enjoy our conversations. she inspires me to be a better person, all around.
can't wait to hear about your time with natalie!
Posted by: molly | May 21, 2010 at 08:39 PM
my mum
I always say I want to be just like her when i "grow up"
Posted by: ~Kathryn~ | May 21, 2010 at 08:58 PM
I've had many along the way and a few at present, but my very first & most influential (taught me things I still use today, 20+ years later) was a retired school teacher who had contracted polio from one of her students in the 60s and was in a wheelchair the rest of her life. Yet her mind was so brilliant and her heart so open & giving, she was just an amazing person.
Posted by: Bonnie B | May 21, 2010 at 10:38 PM
I don't feel like I had the mentor I needed growing up, so I go out of my way to be the person I wish I had known for the younger people I work with now. Because things could have been soooo different...
Posted by: Mer Manson | May 21, 2010 at 11:36 PM
My Pastor's Wife has been my mentor since the age of 18...she has taught, influenced,inspired my life in so many ways. She has and continues to believe in me even when I do not. I truly Thank God for bringing her into my life.
Posted by: Madelia | May 21, 2010 at 11:45 PM
A former teacher of mine was my mentor. When I began my career he was there to advise, guide and support me and conintued to be until I put my career on hold to stay at home with my son. We are good friends now and he will always be.
Posted by: Jesa | May 22, 2010 at 12:30 AM