It’s true—we tend to pick up things from those who constantly surround us. This can obviously be a great thing, if we surround ourselves with wonderful human beings. Since I commute to school, I spend a lot of time at home, and most of that time is spent in the presence of my parents. As I’m growing more into this weird stage of life known as adulthood, I’ve noticed that I am becoming more and more like my parents with each day that passes. There are undoubtedly five scenarios in which I feel that I am channeling my mom—I don’t regret or deny this at all, but I have recently become more observant of this, after someone recently told me that I am becoming my mother. Here are my five oh my gosh I'm my mom moments:
1. When I start to clean up the table at a restaurant.
I must admit that I'm proud of this one, no matter how odd it might seem to other people. My mom always picks up the table after a meal at a restaurant, I mean religiously. Even if we were with a huge group of people, she'll stay behind and clean up. She likes to make life easier for all of the restaurant staff. In her opinion, their job is difficult and demanding, so she does this to make their lives a little bit better. I too find myself doing this everywhere. My friends recently commented on me doing this at a restaurant in Peru. I just can't help it anymore. I've seen my mom do it so many times, I feel that I should be doing it too. And if it's something positive, why not do it?
2. When I yell at my brother about not cleaning up the kitchen.
This one seems to be pretty self-explanatory. Whenever I decide to be a helpful member of my household, I clean the kitchen. Right after I finish, a wonderful young man (known as my brother) likes to come in and cook something deliciously wild (which is great, I love that he enjoys cooking), but then...he leaves it all behind. Every. Single. Time. When I come downstairs and see that horrifying mess, I channel my inner mom and begin to yell at him in Spanish (that's how I know that I am really channeling my mother). In that brief moment, I can foresee what I will be like as a mom.
3. When I automatically walk to the clearance section of a store.
Mom has always taught me to value my money andother people's money. Just because you have $50, doesn't mean that you have to spend all of it. So unless I'm feeling rich, I go to the sale sections. And let's face it, I'm a college student—I never feel rich.
4. When I pull out four different coupons.
Mom likes to save money (who doesn't?). And over the years, I have learned of these money-saving habits and after using them while shopping with her, I am now always prepared with coupons on my phone, through an app, or from some weekly add. I mean come on, you can almost always get 40% off at Jo-Ann's, and a free burger at Tom Wahl's.
5. When I randomly pull a blanket out of no where.
Anyone who knows my mom knows that she is always cold. If it isn't 85 degrees, the woman is shivering. With that being said, she takes a blanket with her wherever she goes: restaurants, church, car rides, etc. She likes to play it safe and have one around just in case. If I'm cold and my mother is nearby, I can almost always count on her to have a blanket to share. So guess what I have in the backseat of my car? Yup, that's right. A blanket. It's small but mighty, because who knows when I will get chilly. I also carry a scarf with me that can usually double as a light blanket if the occasion calls for it.
I'm sure that as the years continue to pass, I will feel more and more like my mother (and father and brother), but for now, these are the moments that remind me that I am surely her daughter.