It turns out A-list actors, first ladies and award winning poets really are just like us — profoundly shaped by their mothers. We see it time and time again on Wild Card, when these celebrities tear up and laugh out loud (sometimes simultaneously) while telling stories about their moms.
I hear the adoration in their answers and think “yes, exactly,” no matter how unfamiliar the rest of the story is. My mom — flaws and all — is the center of my universe. These days I get to watch her be a grandmother to my one-year- old, which is bonkers, frankly. Sorry to get sappy! But as you’ll see… I’m not the only one. Here are some Wild Card moments guaranteed to tug at your heartstrings and get you ready for Mother’s Day this Sunday.
The simple beauty of biking with Mom
“My mom was my kindergarten teacher and the school was down the road, and we'd ride our bikes there. If I was in front, I'd ask, ‘Hey, Mom, you back there?’... And the response was always, ‘Right behind you, baby. Right behind you.’”
The magic of a skip day
“It was in seventh grade. My hair was permed, and my mom took me to SeaWorld. She let me skip school and took me to SeaWorld to give me a special day and reprieve from the horror that was school… And I felt such joy that day and such closeness with her.”
Moms who clear the path
“My mother…was my secret advance man. You know, moving through the world, knocking obstacles out of my path that I didn't even know existed… like the woman who said I shouldn't be going to Dartmouth, my guidance counselor. ‘You know… [you] are not Ivy League material.’ And my mom came in and took care of that and was like, ‘Apply anywhere you want to.’”
- Shonda Rhimes, producer, screenwriter and director
Relief, tacos and show-and-tell
“Our parents didn't know where we were. When I say we got in trouble, my mother actually was just thrilled that I was alive, and she took me out for Mexican food, and wanted to see all the pictures. She was like, ‘Oh, sweetie, you cannot do that ever again. But let me see the pictures.’”
Caring for our caregivers
“My mother is 79, almost 80, and she's dealing with some health challenges. And these challenges over the course of the last year have put me in position to be a caretaker. I have to wash her and I have to clean her. If we're being honest, it is burdensome sometimes. It also feels like prayer. It feels like I'm praying to the only creator that I've ever actually physically known."
Who do you know that LOVES podcasts? Forward them this email, as a treat! Sign up here.
Got something on your mind? We'd love to hear from you: podclub@npr.org
NPR has so! many! great! newsletters! Politics, culture, identity... we've got you covered.
You received this message because you're subscribed to Pod Club emails. This email was sent by National Public Radio, Inc., 1111 North Capitol Street NE, Washington, DC 20002
