In honor of Mother’s Day being this past Sunday, I thought instead of writing your usual “50 Reasons to Thank Your Mom” article, I would shake things up a little and write about my Mom and I’s favorite movie, Freaky Friday. My mom and I used to watch this movie multiple times a week, and it always resulted in tears and a greater appreciation for each other.
If you’ve never seen the movie, it’s about a mother and a daughter who get a curse cast upon them, and they switch lives with each other for nearly a month. This ultimately teaches them about the ups and downs of each other’s busy lives and helps them appreciate each other more.
While it hopefully doesn't take a curse for you to appreciate your mother, here are three lessons that the movie “Freaky Friday” teaches us about appreciating our moms:
1. Your family is more important than anything else.
Even though our family can tend to get on our nerves, and drive us insane, these relationships and people are ones that are going to last (hopefully) a lifetime. Whether it’s a crazy grandfather or a busy-body mother who always sides with your younger sibling, no family is perfect. Anna Coleman, the character Lindsey Lohan played, seemed to constantly be running into family conflicts (ugh teenage angst). However, by the end of the movie, she had discovered a new and greater form of love for her chaotic family and their behavior. The next time one of your younger siblings pulls a prank on you, or your mom makes a face at your outfit, remember to keep the ending of this movie in mind.
2. You shouldn’t judge someone until you’ve walked a mile in their shoes.
In the heated argument between Anna and Tess, mother and daughter in the film, an enchanted fortune cookie causes the two to switch places and see life through each other’s eyes. This causes both ladies to appreciate each other more and see what one another goes through on a daily basis. Anna begins to see why her mother is constantly so stressed about her job, and Tess has to relive the challenges of a young high-schooler. Walking a mile in someone’s shoes helps you to find a new respect for them.
3. Your mom always has your back and is a perfect built-in best friend.
While you and your mother may not always see eye to eye, and there may be many conflicts between the two of you, she cares more about you than you could ever imagine. It may feel like she doesn’t ‘understand you’ or, care about what you want at times, but you are most likely way off. As Jamie Lee Curtis’s character showed us, our Mom’s really are your first best friend and a pretty loyal one at that. Our mothers always have our best interest in mind, even if we think the excessive shopping trips, body piercings, and short skirts are a better idea than her alternative. The best part is, even when we don’t listen to her advice, she will still always be by our side and have our back.
Remember that next time your mom nags you to change clothes, or to call her every once in a while!
