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The Pinecone
|
May 2016
• 7 •
A MOTHERHOOD BALANCING ACT
Beverly
Hassell
A circle of life beyond measure – consider the following: a son
or a daughter whose early life is shaped by a mother who instills
standards of expected conduct. These cues guide her children’s
behavior and decision-making. At school-age, her children, in
turn, begin to identify their “personal space” in the community
beyond the home; they begin to build groups of friends and allies.
As the children mature, they ferret out their personal talents,
interests, strengths, and foibles. During these formative years,
mothers are the “north star” in the child’s development of a moral
compass. In their adult years, they marry and become a mother or
a father - the circle of life continues apace.
For this article, Beverly Hassell, Kirby Pines resident, is our
daughter-cum-mother; the mother of 2 sons and 1 daughter. Let’s
consider her journey of life within the broad-brush paradigm
set out above. Beverly desperately wanted children, but as the
years went by she feared that motherhood would not be. She was
thrilled when her first child (a son) came into her life, followed by
arrival of two other children. She began the process of molding
the children’s behavior, taking as her guide lessons learned from
her mother. Example: one lesson focused on the importance
of showing respect and ‘doing the right thing”. When Beverly
misbehaved her mother discussed with her the unacceptable
behavior and the level of punishment to be administered (spanking,
no more than 5 and no less than 3 smacks).
The children became adults, and left home for college and
subsequent careers. Beverly had the time now to try a new path
of personal growth – she was “itching” to professionally act. So,
at 45 years of age, with experience in performing primarily in
church choirs, uncertain and nervous, nevertheless forged ahead
to audition for local productions. Would Directors find her talent
sufficiently compelling to cast her in their plays? Not knowing, she
“took the plunge” and established a successful career in the theater.
A modicum of diverse productions in which she was featured
include “The Foreigner” (Germantown Theater), “Baby” (Theatre
Memphis), “Gigi” (Theatre Memphis) “Unsolved Mysteries” (TV
series that are still shown), “Ernest In Love” (Rhodes College),
“Death of a Salesman” (Circuit Theater), “Sound of Music”
(Theatre Memphis), “She Stoops to Conquer” (McCoy Theatre).
Doing her personal best – devoted mother of 3 talented children.
Talented in her own right; daring to try (and succeeding) to build
a solid career in mid-life.
Rightly so, we put mothers on a pedestal – saluting them for their
diligence in shaping us. Our “mother and family” memories are
good, often bringing a smile and, at times, a tear.
Mothers, your love and guidance helped us become who we are
– thank you.
- Jacqueline Besteman, Resident
Beverly in 1995 “Follies” at Theatre Memphis, “Broadway Baby”