LESSONS FROM OUR MOTHERS: New Book Tells of Candid Reflections, in 1,000 Words or Less

A bedside project to keep her ailing mother engaged leads an author/editor to a thoughtful collection of stories

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Jan 09, 2017, 09:00 ET

NEWTON, Mass., Jan. 9, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- At 81-years old, Jill Ebstein's mom signed up for a formal program in religious studies. Previously unable to attend college and now widowed, her mom set out to take care of unfinished business. Since the books seemed too heavy for her to lug around, her younger classmates chipped in to buy her a rolling backpack. When she completed the course and expressed pride in finally having a 'real graduation,' her children flew out for the ceremony. Her son held a party for her at his accounting firm. "We are all unfinished people with opportunities to grow," writes Ebstein in her newest collection to her At My Pace series of books, called AT MY PACE: LESSONS FROM OUR MOTHERS.

A bedside project to keep her ailing mother engaged leads an author/editor to a thoughtful collection of stories involving more than three dozen sons and daughters with unforgettable life lessons, tailored to modern day attention spans

While her mom didn't live to see the book get published, she heard and commented on all the submissions along the way. "It really was a special time with mom and it provided us a distraction, but a meaningful one. It changed our conversation from the need to eat and drink and do physical therapy to the complexity of relationships and the need to find and show gratitude."

AT MY PACE: LESSONS FROM OUR MOTHERS is a collection of 38-stories from grown children – men and women, which seeks to expand a conversation, much as the first book At My Pace: Ordinary Women Tell Extraordinary Stories (2015), only here to the topic is not our journey and whether to lean in but our mom. Each piece is approximately 1,000 words and shows complexity, appreciation, and one specific lesson that each mother gave to her son or daughter. The book is divided into three sections by age range: under 40, 40 to 60, and over 60; all of which were gathered and edited by Jill Ebstein; in addition to her own story about her mom, "My Mother's Rolling Backpack."

Some submissions grappled with second chances and the work that derives from repair; touching on topics like acceptance, love, and redemption. One contributor reflects on her mother as "The General," and talks about the strain of growing up, only to turn the page, become a parent herself, then call her mom not out of obligation but out of desire. Others talk about resilience in spite of mounting personal challenges, like starting over in a new country, while clinging tightly to old ways of life. One daughter describes cutting her hair in an act of defiance – a monumental victory – until later she wins the fight against her dad to attend college and live on campus, making the earlier battle seem comparatively insignificant.

Many contributors shared examples of what they liked about their moms. Top of the list: walking the walk, finding unexpected strength, and the ability to evolve over time. Then there were others who focused on how their moms' actions taught them what not to do. The daughter of a glamorous, highly-prestigious, Madison Avenue copywriter, learned through her mother's low self-esteem not to focus on weakness but to embrace her strengths. Not surprisingly, in many stories where contributors shared a negative lesson, they showed great compassion and respect toward their mothers.

AT MY PACE: LESSONS FROM OUR MOTHERS is a celebration of the matriarchs in our lives. Full of insight and introspective tales, the book highlights the love between parent and child. The mission of the editor is to add meaning and understanding to one's life by candidly sharing life experiences and provide ample opportunities for self-reflection, at one's own pace.

About the Editor

Jill Ebstein is the editor of the At My Pace series of books – At My Pace: Lessons from Our Mothers (Nov, 2016) and At My Pace: Ordinary Women Tell Extraordinary Stories (2015). She's the founder of Sized Right Marketing, a Newton, Mass., based consulting firm that helps Fortune 500 companies use the customer voice to develop workable strategies that will yield results. She holds a BS from Washington University and an MBA from Wharton. Learn more at: http://www.atmypacebook.com.

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