* Today is my mom’s birthday. Like most moms, she’s sweet and kind. But she also pushed all five of her sons to succeed. We often didn’t measure up to what she knew we could be, but she’s never once let on that she’s been the slightest bit disappointed in us. We are all in our 40s and 50s, but we are forever her boys.

My dad always says that his sons got their brains from my mom and he’s probably right. Her IQ is off the charts high. She graduated college in three years, second in her class with two kids and one on the way. At one point in her career with the Department of Defense, she inspected nuclear weapons.

Her brains are matched by her tenacity. She’s never quit anything in her life. You can only imagine what she went through as a female civilian employee of the United States Army back in the 1970s. It was at times excruciatingly painful for her, but her job allowed her family to live in Europe and that was that. She wasn’t walking away from that sort of opportunity.

I love my mom for so many reasons, including how wonderful she is with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Here she is with a few of those kids…

I respect my mom more than I’ve respected anyone else in my life. She has always set the example which I have tried to follow, with varying degrees of success.

* No question today, but feel free to wish my mom a happy birthday. Thanks.

       

50 Comments - Jack Stephens - Wednesday, May 6, 15 @ 2:27 pm: Happy B-Day. Miss my Jewish mother. What I wouldnt give for one more guilt inducing shrug and sigh. 1 more, thats it. Well, if it came with some of her chocolate cookies….she can carry on. - Illinoisan - Wednesday, May 6, 15 @ 2:29 pm: Happy Birthday Mrs. Miller and Happy Mother’s Day too. You must be incredibly proud of your family. - VanillaMan - Wednesday, May 6, 15 @ 2:32 pm: Great work Mrs. Miller! We wouldn’t be doing this without you. - Arthur Andersen - Wednesday, May 6, 15 @ 2:34 pm: Happy Birthday, Mrs. Miller. Thank you for your service to our country. - Commander Norton - Wednesday, May 6, 15 @ 2:34 pm: Happy birthday to Mama Miller. Job well done. That kid on the right looks like a red-headed version of you, Rich. - 5th Generation Chicagoan - Wednesday, May 6, 15 @ 2:34 pm: What a lovely, lovely tribute: and how very wise and kind for you to pay it now, and not later. Happy birthday, Mrs. Miller — and job well done on all fronts. - A guy - Wednesday, May 6, 15 @ 2:36 pm: A very happy birthday to you Mrs. Miller. It’s one thing to hear one of your children say he loves you. That’s wonderful, but that phrase gets thrown around plenty these days. It’s another thing for him to tell you why…and then say it. Raising 5 children with an extremely important job is amazing enough. Doing so in the industry you were in was even more impressive. If any of the other 4 sons are like this one; there isn’t a reward great enough to give you; but one! The enduring love of your children and grandchildren who see you only as mom and grandma. Those are the two best titles in the world. God Bless and keep you and the very happiest of birthdays to you! - Vote Quimby! - Wednesday, May 6, 15 @ 2:40 pm: Happy birthday Mrs. Miller! Hope you enjoy your special day and especially the young ‘uns! - Ghost - Wednesday, May 6, 15 @ 2:48 pm: Happy Birthday! - Belle - Wednesday, May 6, 15 @ 2:50 pm: Have a terrific day Mrs Miller! Happy Birthday!!! - Stones - Wednesday, May 6, 15 @ 2:51 pm: Happy Birthday and many more! - marioncountyhousing - Wednesday, May 6, 15 @ 2:55 pm: Happy Birthday, Mrs. Miller! - Commonsense in Illinois - Wednesday, May 6, 15 @ 2:56 pm: Happy Birthday, Mrs. Miller…now can we talk about Richard? - Get a Job! - Wednesday, May 6, 15 @ 2:59 pm: Rich, your mom looks younger than you! Happy Birthday, Rich’s mom. - Maybe? - Wednesday, May 6, 15 @ 3:00 pm: Happy birthday to your mother! She sounds like a strong, wonderful, intelligent woman. - Corporate Thug - Wednesday, May 6, 15 @ 3:04 pm: Mrs. Miller, I hope you have a happy birthday! You raised a pretty alright son. - Six Degrees of Separation - Wednesday, May 6, 15 @ 3:05 pm: Another Happy Birthday, Rich’s mom - Richy Rich - Wednesday, May 6, 15 @ 3:10 pm: Happy Birthday Mrs. Miller - ah HA - Wednesday, May 6, 15 @ 3:12 pm: Happy Birthday! - Fan of Cap Fax - Wednesday, May 6, 15 @ 3:16 pm: Happy Birthday, Mrs. Miller! You look too young to be a Gramma! Those are some beautiful Grandkids, too! Hope your day is filled with love and laughter! - Oswego Willy - Wednesday, May 6, 15 @ 3:20 pm: Mrs. Miller, I want to wish you a very Happy Birthday, and many more. From reading the beautiful post Rich put up, he has chosen a wonderful role model to measure himself. Also, Happy Mothers’ Day. Rich’s post also allowed us inside to see the warmth and deep love he learned from you as he speaks so eloquently about what you mean to him. All the best to you today and Mothers’ Day. OW. - forwhatitsworth - Wednesday, May 6, 15 @ 3:25 pm: Speaking of voter empowerment, what’s the latest on the millionaire’s tax that voters so overwhelmingly supported in the last election? I know it was non-binding, but wasn’t it supported by something like 80% of the voters? Where’s the voter empowerment here? - Cheryl44 - Wednesday, May 6, 15 @ 3:28 pm: Happy Birthday Mrs. Miller! - late to the party - Wednesday, May 6, 15 @ 3:33 pm: Very happy birthday, Rich’s Mom! A beautiful tribute to an impressive woman. - Concerned - Wednesday, May 6, 15 @ 3:33 pm: Happy Birthday and Happy Mother’s Day to someone who not only passed along smarts but class as well. - 47th Ward - Wednesday, May 6, 15 @ 3:43 pm: Happy birthday and thanks Mrs. Miller. Knowing Rich a little, I’m sure there were times when you wanted to strangle him. That would have deprived us of his wit, wisdom, insight and the best political reporting in Illinois. So thanks for your restraint, and for the many great lessons you taught him. - Chris Nybo - Wednesday, May 6, 15 @ 3:49 pm: Happy Birthday, Mrs. Miller (and, jumping the gun just a little, Happy Mother’s Day as well)! - MrJM - Wednesday, May 6, 15 @ 3:52 pm: Happy birthday, Mrs. Miller. “I respect my mom more than I’ve respected anyone else in my life.” You were a very lucky kid, Rich. – MrJM - Not quite a majority - Wednesday, May 6, 15 @ 3:54 pm: Happy Birthday Mrs. Miller. You raised a good son. A bit mouthy at times, but I know, I have 5 boys too — what can you do? Still have a great birthday and Happy Mother’s Day on Sunday! - Just Curious - Wednesday, May 6, 15 @ 3:56 pm: Happy Birthday and Happy Mother’s Day Mrs. Miller. - downstate commissioner - Wednesday, May 6, 15 @ 4:18 pm: GREAT grandmother? she looks way too young for that- Happy birthday, Mrs. Miller, and many more… - walker - Wednesday, May 6, 15 @ 4:23 pm: Delighted to get to meet you. When I tried to compliment you on being the obvious source of one of Rich’s clear talents, you just said “No, that’s from his father.” Spoken like a true lady. Happy birthday. - Anonymous - Wednesday, May 6, 15 @ 4:27 pm: Happy Birthday! While Rich may have gotten your brains, he very clearly didn’t get your looks! - DuPage - Wednesday, May 6, 15 @ 4:30 pm: Happy birthday to you, Mrs. Miller. And many, many more! - Been There Before - Wednesday, May 6, 15 @ 4:31 pm: Happy Birthday and here is to many, many more! - ddy - Wednesday, May 6, 15 @ 4:37 pm: Happy Birthday! - JS Mill - Wednesday, May 6, 15 @ 4:38 pm: Happy Birthday! - Amalia - Wednesday, May 6, 15 @ 4:42 pm: Happy Birthday! Rich, so nice that you have such a great mom. - Wordslinger - Wednesday, May 6, 15 @ 4:43 pm: Five sons should get you a good seat at the Big Banquet. Best wishes and many more. - Ann - Wednesday, May 6, 15 @ 5:15 pm: Happy birthday, Mrs. Miller! You did a lot of great work for your family and your country. Wishing you your best year yet. - Nearly Normal - Wednesday, May 6, 15 @ 5:45 pm: Happy birthday Mrs. Miller. You raised your sons and were a trailblazer for women employed by the DoD. Enjoy your birthday and Happy Mother’s Day! - RNUG - Wednesday, May 6, 15 @ 5:48 pm: Happy Birthday, Rich’s mom. You some like an extraordinary person. Rich, Enjoy your mom … - Gov. Rauner - Wednesday, May 6, 15 @ 6:01 pm: Happy Birthday, even if you are a public pensioner. - Wronger Rauner - Wednesday, May 6, 15 @ 7:30 pm: You look WAY TOO YOUNG to be Rich’s mother! Happy birthday and many more!! Sounds like you did well at motherhood. - illini - Wednesday, May 6, 15 @ 8:33 pm: Wishing you a very Happy Birthday as well as a great Mothers Day, you raised a great family and your legacy is assured. - Rich's Mom - Wednesday, May 6, 15 @ 8:48 pm: Thanks Rich for the tribute and to your readers for their best wishes. I do really appreciate the sentiments and it helped my day be an extra special one. - Mousy Librarian - Wednesday, May 6, 15 @ 9:20 pm: Happy birthday to you, Mrs. Miller. You once commented on Capitol Fax; and I noticed at that time that your writing sparkles, so it appears that Rich’s talent is (at least in part) inherited! - Minnow - Wednesday, May 6, 15 @ 9:56 pm: Happy Birthday Mrs. Miller and Happy Mother’s Day. You sound like a wonderful woman and mother. And Kudos to you Rich for saying so in such a beautiful way. Thanks for sharing. - Jon Zahm - Wednesday, May 6, 15 @ 11:47 pm: Great Tribute! Happy birthday, Mrs. Miler. God Bless You. - Carhartt Representative - Thursday, May 7, 15 @ 7:50 am: Happy belated birthday! You sound like a real trailblazer and a fantastic mom. Sorry, comments for this post are now closed.