When I was a teenager, my mom and I had a horrible relationship. We’d scream and shout at each other, slam doors for effect, and then not speak for days. I called her “the Drill Sergeant” because she was so good at barking out orders. We were constantly at odds over everything from my messy room and unfinished chores to my attitude.
Thankfully, those days have passed. In the years since I left home, our relationship has improved and I’m now proud to call her a friend. She’s my biggest fan, my most unwavering supporter, and an inspiration to me as a person, friend, and mother.
I aspire to be just like her.
Where I have trouble keeping my house tidy, she always keeps a neat house. She’s disciplined in her housework and does chores each day, keeps everything picked up, the kitchen clean, and laundry put away. There are no piles of paperwork scattered around and no clutter.
Where I come home from a long day at work and throw a frozen pizza in the oven, she comes home from a long day at work and makes a real home-cooked dinner. She’s a good cook, too, with a much greater repertoire than I.
Where I’m lazy and chose to play on the computer, watch TV, or putter around instead of being productive around the house, she has the strength of will to do housework and chores first before she does anything for herself.
She always thinks of the needs of others first, and is one of the most dedicated and giving people I know. She works hard at her job, and still finds time to volunteer her time and energy for a good cause.
But no matter what she had going on in her own life, she has always had time for me. To help with a problem over a mug of hot tea, deliver a forgotten item or project to me at school, or to simply take a time out to enjoy a moment in each other’s company.
My mom has always been my biggest role model. Even in the throes of adolescence, I always looked up to her. She has always encouraged me to stretch beyond my comfort zone, try new things, and be a better person. She taught me with words and showed me by example about good values, good relationships, and good life skills.
I’m the person that I am because of the way she raised me, and I’m proud of that. And especially now that I’m a wife and mother myself, she continues to inspire me to strive to be a better person. I hope that I can be just like her when I grow up.
Oh! What a sweet post! Your mom sounds so wonderful! I can relate to the "growing up, didn't get along" part, but things are great now with my mom and I too! I think for Mother's Day you should print this and have it framed for her as a gift - bet she'd love it :-)
ReplyDeleteOh that is such a great post, really I loved that you learned to appreciate her so much now. It was kind of a similar situation between me and my mom. Now I just appreciate her SO much now.
ReplyDeleteAnyway, I'm brand new to your blog. I followed you over from My life in Jenga. I really enjoy your blog and just became a new follower. I look forward to getting to know you better!
So hoping my older angry teen will feel that way one day! Stories like yours encourage me!
ReplyDeleteMy grandmother was tough - and she did everything on schedule. She sure made me mad a lot, but I realized when I went to college, that really she was my rock - and she always believed in me. That's priceless!
The sad this is, even though we grew closer after I went off to school, I never really knew how special she was until I became a mom myself. Now I feel bad for all the crap I put her through - I guess it's a rite of passage & I'll go through it too. I just hope I can be as good of a mom as she is.
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