We are all delighting in nob01 entries on Anakin, my favorite character of the PT, but today I thought I'd mention Shmi, Anakin's mom. I'm thinking how much pain her son would have caused her if she were alive at the time of his "turning".

I raised my children alone turning in to their slave (figuratively speaking), working, cleaning and taking care of them with all the motherly love I had inside of me. Only doing my job. They didn't ask to be brought in to this world. If they would have, knowing what I know now, I would have probably said no to 3 of them.

Being a single Mom, I worked my tail off to give them the basics. A roof over their head, food on the table, electricity, running water and cable TV even. Being the only working human in the house it was very hard to keep up with the bills, their needs and their wants. Their wants sometimes, mostly all the time, remained on the back burner. That's the economic side of having children. Please bear in mind that I started raising my 4 children 34 years ago.

I instilled all the moral values possible. Do not kill (especially their siblings), do not lie, have love and compassion for your neighbors, (meaning the whole human race) honor your Mom, don't cheat, don't steal...everything most parents teach their children. For the most part my kids are good, clean, law abiding citizens. None of them turned to The Dark Side, yet as they get older they never cease to AMAZE and SHOCK me. Just when I think nothing more can "phase" me, and I've seen everything under the sun, they are always doing something that proves me wrong. It never ends folks. (You will note I didn't bring up religious values. I believe they have nothing to do with the GFFA).

Shmi's situation brings a whole new meaning to being a "single mom" with her son not having a father period. What we learned of her from the short screen time available to us in TPH & AOTC, you can tell she was a loving Mom so much so she gave her son away to the Jedi Order thinking he would have a better life. Better to be alone and a Jedi than with Mom and a slave?? What ever was she thinking?? We assume she instilled all the moral values all Moms do but most Moms have approximately 18 years or so to do it in. She only had 9??? Anyone who has raised kids knows repetition is a mighty tool. How many of us have to repeat the same "poo doo" over and over again. And this repetition goes on until their grown. Shmi didn't have that luxury. She obviously thought her teachings along with the Jedi Order teachings would have been enough for her son to turn out to be a good upright citizen of the GFFA. It's a shame she thought so highly of the Jedi.

Shmi did herself a favor when she died. The favor of not having to see the monster her son turnned out to be...the favor of not having to blame herself for his turn to The Dark Side like most mothers blame themselves when their children do something that's not quite right. My AMAZEMENT and SHOCK is her HORROR and HURT.

But then if she would have lived he might not have turned but we all know that this scenario was not possible.

MTFBWU ALL