Our relationships with our moms are constantly changing. We come into this world clinging to her side, while during our adolescent years we tend to crave some space. It's not until college, when you are truly independent, that you begin to realize how much you genuinely rely on your mom. When heading to college I thought that I didn’t need my mom by my side anymore. I was confident I could do just fine without her. Although I have been successful in college thus far, it wasn’t until I was truly on my own that I realized how much my mom does for me, and how I would not be capable of handling college without the constant support and guidance she has given me throughout the years. With that being said, here are some things I have learned to REALLY appreciate my mom for while away at school...
1. Laundry
Despite my mom’s numerous attempts to teach me how to do this, I still find myself ruining at least one piece of clothing with every cycle I do.
2. Home Cooked Meals
No matter how good you might think the food at your school is, it will never compare to a home cooked meal that your mother claims to have “slaved over” (because chances are she probably did).
3. Having ALL the Answers
The ability to simply scream downstairs to ask your mom a question is no more. We now must pick up the phone every time we forget our social security number, want to know the Netflix password or ask if it is okay to eat something after its expiration date.
4. Hugs
Most of us take for granted the power of a "mom hug". We all have our bad days and as much as we may try to seek comfort in roommates or friends at school, nothing beats the warmth that comes with a hug from your mom. Our moms might not always tell us what we wanna hear, but the great thing about their hugs is that they don't have to say anything, we get all we need from that warm embrace.
5. Taking Care of You When You're Sick
There is nothing worse than being sick at school, especially when your "nurse" isn't there to take care of you. Where is my mom to force me to eat soup, tell me to go to bed early, or put a cold compress on my forehead?
6. Giving In... When Dad Says "NO"
It is not a competition for who gets to be the "fun parent", but my mom tends to take the title when I go to her for something. For example, that new pair of shoes will forever be grateful for my mom's generosity and understanding that they were a "necessity".
7. Dropping EVERYTHING To Help You
Forgot your laptop in your room? Too bad you can't give your mom a call to drop it off for you. Now you will have to either deal without it or run back to your dorm for it yourself (can you imagine that?!). Being far away from your mom can really highlight all the little things she has done for you over the years.
8. Calling You Out When You Are Wrong
We are college students and it is inevitable that we will make mistakes, but we must take a leap of faith knowing that our moms have taught us right from wrong. As teenagers we often rebuked whatever our moms had to say, but as adults we are slowly starting to listen to our mom’s advice (that we spent so much time trying to ignore over the years).
Or in other words...
9. Being Your Shoulder to Cry On
This can be quite a stressful time between grades, boys (literally boys because they all act like they are 12), and potential jobs. Without having our moms to vent to, the void becomes much harder to fill. I miss the days where I could sit on my bed and have a good cry about all the crap going on in my life. Although we can have those conversations over the phone, it is not the same as the closeness we share snuggled up in my room.
Therefore, with that said, the next time someone asks me, “if you were stranded on a desert island, what is the one thing you’d bring?” I will make the wise decision and reply “My Mom”. A desert island is nothing compared to the hell I put her through during those middle school years!
