It was my mother's 50th birthday last week, and usually when birthdays come around it's a pretty casual thing for me. I don't think too much into the whole growing older and aging thing. It's simply a time to celebrate the presence of that loved one in your life. However, the fact that my mom was hitting such a big milestone in her life made me reconsider my view on birthdays. For instance, the way we treat people on their birthdays is how we should treat them every day of their lives.
My mom's birthday made me think about my mom, and how I treat her. I don't treat my mother like I should, and it is something I am very ashamed of. This woman who carried me in her womb for nine months -- she never fails to remind me of this -- is more deserving of the greatest treatment from me than anyone else I know. It was when I entered junior high -- for sure, the favorite stage of life for most individuals -- that I began to think differently from my mother and tried to cause conflict with her for no apparent reason. Picking fights with my mom was my specialty, and I became very good at it; unfortunately, I still am today. She knows exactly how to push my buttons and I know exactly how to push hers. It's a game, and we're both very good at it. But why? Why do we test each other? Well, I've realized that I am actually a lot more like mother than I would like to believe. The things I say and do, even the way I think -- it's all peculiarly similar to my mom. Therefore, all the fighting and bickering is just a result of the fact that whilst I am trying to be my own person, part of me is still a lot like my mother.
The point I am trying to make here is to be more grateful for your mom. I know she may be the most annoying human being on the planet, at times, but she is also your biggest fan and the most amazing person in your life. When everyone else proves to be undependable and disloyal, your mother will be there with open arms and a witty remark about how she is always right -- and let's admit it, she most of the time is always right.
My mom has always had a huge role in my life. No matter the circumstance, she has always been there for me -- and this is no exaggeration. The woman would literally bend over backwards to make my siblings and me happy. Actually, I'm pretty sure she would do this for anyone she cared about. She has sacrificed her whole life for my family, I don't even know how I could ever pay her back in full for all she has done for me.
An achievable goal for me, and everyone whose mother plays a big role in their lives, would be to be kinder to your mom. She's not your enemy, so why treat her like one? No one will ever love you and do as much for you as that woman and you cannot deny this fact. Neither can you deny the fact that you are going to be just like her one day. So, tell your mother you love her and that she is appreciated as often as you can. It's the least you can do.
