Oftentimes, I take breaks from school, such as spring break, as a time to reflect on my life and separate myself from my day to day routine. For me, it is a time to evaluate those New Year's resolutions I may have forgotten about just two months later, and to contemplate prospective life choices.
Additionally, it is a time that most may go home and spend time with family. Living away from home has not always been easy, and I relish the moments I get to spend with my family. I can not say that going back home to visit is the same as living there, but personally, I can say that my relationship with my mom has grown, evolved, and has been strengthened through the distance. I have also come to realize that my mom taught me a lot, and most things have only proved to be that much more true in college.
1. There are friends for everything.
As an adolescent amid puberty, I think most can relate to wanting to be “cool” or have a lot of friends at one point or another in their lives. However, as most moms would, my mom always instructed me to steer away from peer pressure and never “stick to the status quo." Yet, looking back, I probably did not always make the right choices in regards to friends, despite my mom’s advice.
Coming into college, I have come to meet new people, from new places, with different upbringings, other than that which I was used to in my hometown. I believe that through these experiences, I have finally come to realize what my mom meant by “there are friends for everything.” Today, that little voice in my head saying “quality over quantity” seems to eerily sound more and more like my mom.
Sadly, not everyone can be your best friend. Sometimes, it's because you are not compatible; other times, it may be because the friendship is not mutual; and sometimes, it is just not smart. Not all friends may want to “hit up the nightlife” on a Wednesday. Likewise, some friends may just be better at giving advice than others. The point is, be smart about friendships, because a friend is never supposed to fit a “cookie cutter mold," and even the strongest person can be influenced by who they surround themselves by.
2. Take a deep breath and bite your tongue before saying anything.
A couple of years ago, I would have never considered myself a rebellious teenager, yet it was probably the time when my strong personality and opinions shone through the most. My mom would always tell me to bite my tongue three times before I said anything, in order to avoid fighting with someone or saying something I might regret in the future.
This goes hand in hand with the saying “patience is a virtue.” Sometimes, proving your point for the sake of your pride is not worth ruining a relationship, and it can have adverse effects that one might not think of initially. A little self-control and poise can go a long way in an argument.
3. With great freedom comes great responsibilities.
I can’t lie, I was extremely excited to move out. I finally had no one to report myself to, I could stay out as late as I wanted, I could eat whatever my heart desired, and I could hang out with anyone at any time. However, real life is not as simple as all that. While it is true that I am fully capable of doing all of the above, I also have to schedule my laundry times, study for exams, pay my credit card bill, find a job, and the list goes on.
It is easy to get caught up in the things we enjoy, and to forget about the things we do not like as much. But life is a balancing act, and too much of something is never a good thing.
4. Life goes on.
Throughout middle school and high school, I can distinctly remember my mom telling me that “life goes on." Whether it was the boy who broke my heart, the friend that I may have fought with, or that project for which I just did not get the grade I thought I deserved, every time, as I sulked over my kitchen counter, my mom would say that it was going to be okay, and that in some future, these events would only be “a wrinkle in time."
Yet, last semester, I still found my self frustrated and crying in an empty parking lot, sobbing to my mom on the phone after a calculus class in which we had gotten our exams back. And guess what? I heard the all too familiar “it's going to be okay." Even then, although my mom somehow managed to calm me down, I still seemed to be hung up over that one bad grade.
But here I am today, almost a semester later, alive and well. I rarely ever think about that grade that I got on that exam, no one ever asks me about it, and it has not changed my day to day life in the least bit. I guess what my mom was trying to teach me is that glory is fleeting... and so are the bad moments. If life is good, it is great, and if is bad, it can only get better.
5. You can trust your mom with anything.
We all have that one friend that we can tell even our darkest secrets to. However, there is one person that has been able to do that for you from the start, and, more importantly, will be there until the end. Your mom will never betray your trust and, as you have probably heard before, she is the only one that will always have your best interest in mind. Your secrets are probably best kept with her and she will never judge you.
6. Family is everything.
As time goes by, I can not help but notice that making the decision to go home for a weekend gets easier and easier, while leaving home gets harder and harder. Being home makes me regret any time I may have fought with my parents, or my brothers, for that matter. I now realize just how comfortable one is around family, and how you can come to enjoy a familiar company. Like it or not, your family is going to be there for a long time, and they will always have your back.
7. My mom will always be my biggest supporter.
Whether it it be because I failed test or got a job, my mom will always be there for me. I know you may have heard this time and time again, but your mom will always have your best interest in mind. Not only is she the person that knows you the best because she has been present throughout your whole life, but she has lived with you, and, trust me, you learn a lot about someone when you live together. In the end, a mother's love is unconditional.
All in all, I probably should have listened to my mom more often. If I have anything to say to my younger siblings, it would definitely be to appreciate their time with our mom, and never, ever, ever underestimate the power of her love. As for my mom, thanks for always being there for me and teaching me what life really is about. So thanks, mom, I love you.
