The StoryCorps Mobile Tour returned to Fort Myers in February 2024 to record meaningful conversations with people right here in Southwest Florida about their lives.
Each Monday for the next several months, we’re highlighting some of the compelling stories from our fellow Southwest Florida residents.
In this installment, we hear Jessica Lindsey interview her mother Denise Pringle about their relationship, motherhood, and the powerful women in their family.
Transcript:
JOHN DAVIS, HOST:
From WGCU News, I’m John Davis. Each Monday we’re featuring conversations recorded through the StoryCorps Mobile Tour stop in Fort Myers earlier this year.
Today we hear from Jessica Lindey speaking with her mother Denise Pringle about their relationship, motherhood, and the powerful women in their family.
JESSICA LINDSEY: You're just so different than what I've seen, you know, with other people with their relationships with their parents. you've always just been such your own individual. And so I was curious, kind of like different phases. If you could think of different phases that our relationship’s gone through. I think we're like at the friend phase now, which is so much fun, But I remember when I was younger, and you were like, “I'm not your friend, I am your mother. And it was…” (LAUGHTER)
DENISE PRINGLE: It was like “Okay,” I just didn't know how to parent very well. When you don't have a grasp of what you should and shouldn't do, I knew that I did not want to go ahead and cramp your style, or I always wanted you to be true to yourself, and have individuality, but then I also didn't want you to go ahead and tell me what to do. And you did that a lot. (LAUGHTER)
LINDSEY: You gave me space in my own individual. So I feel like what comes up for me when you say that is you said that you didn't know how to parent and that you just gave me space, but I think you gave me at least space to figure out who I was, which I think is, as I'm parenting now, I'm finding is really a most important part of parenting is to let your child become who they really are. Into my 20s and my 30s, when you were really more able to support me as an adult and then we kind of grew to what we have now, there's like a couple of key things that we do have in common, like for all of our differences, we have some core similarities. I think one of them is that we're both not afraid to speak up for what we believe in. And I was curious if you remember, the first time that you realize that that was actually something that's different about us and like the women in our family.
DENISE: I’ve never told you this, but one of my last jobs as a RN, in Connecticut, before you were born, I worked at a VA Center and the doctor, she was not compassionate at all. And we were making rounds on some men, and she was very rude to some people. And, and I got fired. Because I spoke up.
LINDSEY: You gave us all the details about her and then “I got fired.” (LAUGHTER) Okay, Nona, we need you unpack that a little bit. So what happened?
PRINGLE: Well, I just took this gentleman's side of the story and I guess I humiliated her and she didn't like that. And so she got me fired. So that was the first time I ever got fired in my life, and it was not really as devastating as I thought it would be because I felt like I was defending this gentleman.
LINDSEY: Um-hm. I think if we're able to speak up respectfully, but in a way that lets people understand that this current situation is not okay, I can't think of a better skill right now with everything that's going on in our world.
PRINGLE: So true, Jessica. And I really admire the way you're able to go ahead and communicate that far better than…
LINDSEY: Well, I had a lot of looks at the ball watching you communicate with, with a variety of, you know, teachers or coaches or whoever over the years. It was like, “Okay.” Yeah, it's like the instinct is there, spot on? You know, it's just like, “I think this could go, yeah, a little bit differently,” right? I like to think about, what's the outcome that I'm wanting to achieve? And if there's some sort of creative way where we can get the truth out, but then everybody moves through to some better place. That's like, always one of my goals.
PRINGLE: Right.
LINDSEY: Yeah.
PRINGLE: Right, And that's what I respect out of your conversations with diverse subjects.
LINDSEY: Oh thanks, mom.
PRINGLE: Yeah.
LINDSEY: What are some qualities that you see in your sisters that you admire? You all are so similar, but so different too.
PRINGLE: What aunt Diane has done for your life, being a woman of power to go ahead and be at the head of a company and, get on stage and talk to hundreds of people. I mean, that takes a bit of strength and success and I definitely wanted to do to have part of what she brings.
LINDSEY: Oh, yeah. Message received. Yeah, we got that. That downloaded fully. Yeah. So thank you for that.
PRINGLE: And then I want to go ahead and speak about Debbie as well, because I felt that my sister Debbie was a great godmother to you, because she's spiritual, but she doesn't push it on anybody, you know? She’ll just, through her own being, you know, let people know where they stand. So, she was in her own right, also a power source.
LINDSEY: Oh for sure. Yeah, I think that that's, that's the form of spirituality that I identify with. It's not some place you go or a check you write. It's your relationship with the people that are here and now and how you connect and doing good for others and more about community.
PRINGLE: Yes.
LINDSEY: That's something we all have in common.
PRINGLE: I think so.
LINDSEY: Yeah. So thank you, Nona, for being you.
PRINGLE: Oh, and thank you, my darling Jessica, for you for all that you are. Loving you so much.
LINDSEY: I love you too.
DAVIS: That was Jessica Lindsey speaking with her mother Denise Pringle. Their conversation was recorded in Fort Myers through the Story Corps Mobile Tour.
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