Tomorrow is Mother’s Day in the USA. We all have mothers, whether biological or adopted, so I thought maybe it would be interesting to talk about mothers in real life and mothers in fiction. Feel free to comment for a chance to win an ebook copy of Reach for Me (Vacation Sweethearts Book 2) in which Phoebe thinks about her adopted mother.
1. Do you look back fondly at the childhood days you spent with your mother?
What I remember the most about my mother is that she was always with us. Since she had her own business, she was able to stay at home with my brothers and me when we were little. It was very comforting to know that she was always there. After work, my father came home and ate dinner with us every evening. My parents were the stability that we needed growing up.
2. What are some of your favorite memories of your mother?
When I became a Christian, I realized that God had worked through my parents to provide for our family all through our growing years. Later in their lives, they too accepted Jesus as their personal Lord and Savior. So the best memory of all was to hear my mother and father pray to received Jesus into their hearts.
3. Do you like to read about novel characters’ relationships with their mothers?
What do you think? Have you read novels in which you find the book mothers endearing or overbearing? I write about many types of mothers in my fiction books, but I want to share about three types of mothers. So here I’m showing snapshots of how each mother appears in my books in two of my Christian beach romance series (Savannah Sweethearts and Vacation Sweethearts).
(a) Mothers who have passed away:
- In Ask You Later (Savannah Sweethearts Book 1), we are missing two mothers. Sophie lost her mother and so did Leon. In both cases, their fathers have remarried and they have to deal with their stepmothers.
- In Reach for Me (Vacation Sweethearts Book 2), Phoebe’s adopted mother died of cancer a long time ago. Will she find closure soon? This novel is connected to both Walk You There (Savannah Sweethearts Book 5) in a big way, and to Love You Always (Savannah Sweethearts Book 6) in a small way.
(b) Mothers who exasperate their children:
- In Tell You Soon (Savannah Sweethearts Book 2), Mama Hu is the matriarch of the family. Eccentricity is the least of her worries, as we find out later in Once a Thief (Protector Sweethearts Book 1).
- In Wish You Joy (Savannah Sweethearts Book 9), Mrs. Untermeyer has hidden a big secret from her daughter for many years. When Amy finds out, it causes a rift in their mother-daughter relationship. Will they resolve it by Christmas?
(c) Mothers with genuine love for their family:
- In Know You More (Savannah Sweethearts Book 1), Diego is blessed with a loving mother who happily raised five healthy boys in the Flores family. His mother, in turn, is blessed with a loving husband who still loves her even as they’re approaching the twilight years of their lives on earth.
- In Cherish You So (Savannah Sweethearts Book 4), Dante’s mother is very understanding about his plight as a paraplegic and the prospect that he would be in a wheelchair for the rest of his life. In the same book, Nadine’s parents work through their issues with each other and are determined to do the right thing.
Those are just snapshots of some of the mothers in my books. Have you read any of the books above? What do you think of those mothers?
Tell us about some of the books you have read. Have the mothers portrayed in those novels made an impact on you? Do comment to be entered into a random drawing for an ebook copy of my novel, Reach for Me.
If you’re a mother yourself, I would like to wish you a very Happy Mother’s Day. May God bless your special day in every way!
“Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised” (Proverbs 31:30).
Joyfully in Jesus,
Jan Thompson
USA Today bestselling novelist Jan Thompson writes clean and wholesome multiethnic contemporary Christian romance with elements of women’s fiction, Christian romantic suspense with an air of mystery, and inspirational international thrillers with threads of sweet Christian romance. Join Jan's mailing list for her latest book news: JanThompson.com/newsletter
I like to read about mothers in books and its good seeing the different relationships cos its real. Not all have great relationships with mothers but its good in a book to see all types of mothers and also see them change. I have a friend who relationship was very rocky, she was basically told from day one she was unplanned and being a girl she was doubly unwanted It was only after she was married and as the parents aged did the relationship change and now they have a great relationship.
After mum died I read a few books with a mother who had passed away. One was the mother of a small boy and the comment was “I can’t remember what my mummy sounded like” at that I started crying (I was reading in a public place too). I also couldn’t remember what mum sounded like.
I shared a story in our newsletter about Mum. Dad took my brother (4 years older) and me shopping separate for a gift for mum. We bought them and wrapped them. On Mother’s day she unwrapped two gifts the same but different colours. We both gave her a cookie tin! Lets just say Dad didn’t take us to buy the gifts again. Mum took us but never remembered what we bought;)
I am adding some of those books to my wishlist. I am not familiar with those two series but they sound like something I would enjoy reading. Thanks for sharing!
I always love Mrs Minniver, the book and the film. Greer Garson played Kay Minniver and always seemed to hold everything together with panache and love and only ever a loose lock of hair.
Hi Jan,
Thanks for your post. All I can say is that I miss my mother very much. We were very close. She was wonderful! My mother became a believer towards the end of her life, and I can’t wait to see her again someday.
I always enjoy books where the mother is the kind, wise one who doles out loving advice without being overbearing. It just depends on the books, if the mother character is awful I at least hope they can find some redemption at the end.
I love your books, Jan! I didn’t have the best role model for a mom growing up, but I was lucky to have some wonderful aunts and a couple of grandmother’s!
I like to read about mothers in books. I especially like the ones that are like my mom, loving, helpful, give advice when asked. I don’t like the mother’s that try to manipulate, run their children’s lives, dictate how they should act, etc. I was raised in a Christian home. Mom is my best friend, has been for years! I’ve always been able to talk to her about anything and everything, not the least of which was asking her questions before I accepted Jesus, questions deeper than asking SS teachers! I’m thanking God this weekend especially that I still have my mom with me, as her 96th birthday was just a few days ago. She definitely doesn’t want to live to be 100, and if she gets her wish, then I know I don’t have too many more years with her!
I don’t believe I have read any of your books yet (I read so much I have a hard time remembering them all)! The relationships with parents are next only to those with Christ as my favorite in books. My Momma was the most beautiful and well rounded example I could possibly have had! She was a stay at home Mom, totally devoted to Christ, Daddy & us girls. She had the gift of hospitality like no one I knew both with people in general, missionaries visiting our church and many community organizations. There wasn’t a missionary who visited our church that didn’t come for dinner at our house after service. She did many things like coordinating meals-on-wheels in our town for years, only giving it up to someone she trusted greatly. She was so respectful to everyone most of all to Daddy. I only remember seeing her close to lose her temper once & that was also the only time she stepped ahead of Daddy to stand up to anyone. She did this in a way I can’t really describe. She was standing up to my husband after she first found out his abuse towards me had turned physical. I was honestly in shock with how she talked to him, not demeaning but with an authority of sorts. He did speak up using his health & subsequent pain as an excuse but she was having none of it quoting men from the Bible as an example to show that as something a man professing a relationship with Christ should never use! I had never seen her step ahead of Daddy to confront anyone, especially a man which struck me as much as what she said in defense and obvious love for me and our son.
These are just a few examples of the ways she was an example for me. She went home to The Lord more than 5 years ago but I miss her every single day. She was the very best friend I had or ever will have! I miss my grandmas and many special women in my life but Momma holds the biggest part of my heart. If I can be even a small part of the mom she was I will be thrilled!
I enjoy reading about characters’ relationships with both parents, as they are shaped by their past.
One of my favorite mothers from a book is Marmee from Little Women! What a great character.
I love reading about different mothers and the relationships they have with their children, both as kids and adults. My mom raised 7 of us; one memory I have is taking a picnic lunch down to the creek on our property so we could go “swimming “. It must have been late summer because we were barefoot and the field had already been picked. Ouch, ouch, ouch! Still a lot of fun!
The book that comes to mind is Little Women. Marmee March.
My Mother dreamed big dreams and worked to fulfill them. When I was nine, my parents bought a house. It was built in 1836 and part of it was only 80 years old in 1958. She worked many jobs and got a teaching degree while we were teens. She wanted to fix up the house Antique style. Daddy worked hard, too. Sometimes three jobs at a time. She achieved her dream and they tore down the 80 yo part the year I got married, 1969. They added on and made it look like it belonged. When we visited my Dad’s folks in Pennsylvania every summer, she always planned trips to historical sites. That’s why I love history. She passed away in 2018 just after she turned 101. She was born in China to missionary parents and at age 99, published her memoirs of her time there(with my sister’s and my son’s help).
So glad that your friend has a happy ending to her story, but it’s sad to hear about what her mother said to her. That sort of thing can affect a person for the rest of her life. Glad that they reconciled!
You brought up a good point. I don’t think I’ve recorded my mom. When we were kinds she used to sing to us and we love the sound of her voice. Today she is older and far away, and with the pandemic stay-at-home orders, I haven’t been able to go visit my mother. We can only talk on video. But that’s better than nothing.
That’s wonderful about you and your brother thinking alike! What a double treat! Cookies are always fun and I’m sure your mom shared it with all of you so there’s plenty to go around.
Thank you for sharing the stories about your mom. May God bless you for treasuring fun memories of your family!
Thank you, Lori! Savannah Sweethearts series has 11 books and that’s the complete set unless I decide to write more about some of the secondary characters who didn’t get their own books. Actually some of the secondary characters went traveling in Vacation Sweethearts (the spinoff series) so they might all be taken care of! Vacation Sweethearts has 9 novels. Book 5 is coming this Fall. Both series are in Kindle Unlimited so if you’re a subscriber, you can read them all at no extra cost.
Thank you again for your comments!
Thank you for your comments, Dianne. I know who Greer Garson is but I must admit I don’t remember ever watching Mrs. Minniver. Sounds like a fun movie and book!
Praise the Lord that your mom got saved. I felt the same way about my dad also — thankful that he got saved before he passed away. Indeed it’s bittersweet, isn’t it? We do miss them but we know we will see them again in heaven.
Thank you for your comments and for stopping by!
I agree about redemption at the end. In the case of Mrs. Untermeyer, she first showed up in Know You More (Savannah Sweethearts Book 1) and didn’t get her redemptive moment (past settled, secrets resolved, family repaired, etc.) until Books 9-10. When I first wrote about her in Book 1, I didn’t think I would ever talk about her again. However, as the series went on (each book is a complete story about a couple in love), I realized that this secondary character needs closure for the many problems in her life, and so she returned at the end of the series to find her peace in God.
Thank you for stopping by! Have a great weekend in the Lord!
Thank you very much, Paula Marie! You’re much appreciated for enjoying my books! There are more beach romances to come…
Praise the Lord for aunts and grandmas! God brings people into our lives to bless us, doesn’t He? He’s awesome that way and more!
Thank you for your comments and glad you stopped by!
Happy birthday to your mom! Wow, she myst be super healthy to be 96YO! She sounds wonderful re: your best friend. God has blessed you indeed with a special mom
I love having tea with my Mom and read the Bible with her. I can’t do that right now with the pandemic stay-at-home orders, but I hope to be able to do so again very soon.
All the mothers I mentioned in my blog post today are secondary characters in my books. I agree re: love all the kind moms too! There is a balance to be able to let some secondary characters have their own life issues and drama as well. I do try to portray tensions, if needed, between the parents and children, but at the end of they day, they do love one another.
Thank you for stopping by and for your comments!
So sorry for your loss. Five years might be a while back, but I know how much the loss is still felt, having lost my dad 4 years ago. I pray that you are comforted to know that your mom is in heaven with God! Some day you’ll see her again and have a happy reunion where everything is perfect. What a blessing it was for your mom to come to your defense and protect you. That’s what a real mom would do. What an honor it is for you to have such a mother!
I hope you’ll get to read some of my books soon. I write mostly beach romances and travel romances (although I also write romantic suspense outside the scope of this blog site). I like to write about happy endings, about how God brings people together, grow their faith, and bind up old wounds. God is good that way. Praise the Lord that in real life, we can find our comfort in Christ alone!
Thank you for your comments. Glad you stopped by! Have a wonderful weekend and Happy Mother’s Day to you!
Indeed. The parent-child relationship is an important one! Thank you for your comments and for stopping by!
That’s great! Someone else also mentioned the same characters! Novel moms that set the stage is always so memorable.
Thank you for stopping by and for your comments!
What a lovely memory of a family picnic. Sounds like it was a lot of fun, for sure! Your mom was a Super Woman to raise 7 kids! My mother had 4 kids and we were a handful for her. Seven is nearly double that number. :-)
Thank you for sharing your happy memory. Have a great weekend!
Hi! You’re the second person to mention Marmee! What a name, isn’t it? It’s always nice to see classic novels show memorable moms!
Thank you for your comments and glad you stopped by!
Wow! That is amazing that your mom lived to be 101YO. Few people are blessed with a ripe old age like that. Maybe it’s genetic. So glad she published a memoir. Is it on Amazon? That would be an interesting read.
You parents sound like they were very hard working for so many years. That is an old house! I love history too so old houses are fascinating reads to me. Sounds like your mom would have been a wonderful person for history fans to meet.
Wishing you a happy mother’s day weekend and thank you for stopping by! Great comments!
Hi Jan, The Tins were empty. Mum was a great cook always baking cakes, slices, buns and cookies. It was more dad who steered us to buying the empty tins. He didn’t have much of an idea. I was around 7 at the time my brother would have been 11.
With my friend it was more her father who kept telling her she was unwanted and it was worse being a girl. She had to leave school as soon as she was old enough cos they were not paying anymore money for her stay at school. She did find a job and then got into nursing and was on her own from about 16. But they reconciled and ironically she was the one who helped with care and getting them into a retirement village etc. It also made her a mother who fought for her kids and got them any help they needed and sacrificed to give them the best chance to do what they wanted.
Happy Mother’s Day!
I like reading about moms in books.
Happy Mother’s Day! Thank you!
Wow. Your friend is heroic! So glad she has a happy outcome. Praise the Lord!
That is fun too re: just tins! I collect empty containers to store things so that would be a nice gift if there was nothing inside but LOVE! :-) These days I usually just get money or gift card for my birthday and such because it’s so much easier for me to decide what to get rather than be surprised by what I cannot use. :-)