Let me just first start off by saying you can be independent and still need your parents. I am almost 22 years old, and I find myself soliciting help, advice or resources from my mom quite often. I don’t just call on her because I know she’s there, because I know I have also experienced times where my mom, at age 50, has called upon her mother for help. We all need our parents at some point in our lives, no matter how young or old we get.
Have you ever read Hallmark’s “100 Reasons We Love Mom?” It was a Mother’s Day special that they advertised this year of why we love our moms. It stretches from the numerous things mothers to do their children to funny little mom-like quirks that all moms have in common. A few of my favorites Hallmark published that I believe all kids would agree with are: “I would live in a sty without her,” “She’s the glue that holds us all together,” “She still has the trophies, ribbon and medals from when I was a kid,” and “I wouldn’t be where I am without her.” Moms are truly amazing!
I attend a university two hours north from my hometown, where my mom lives. I’ve always been jealous of my friends I met at school that are from the Kansas City area and can be home in a half hour or for a birthday dinner in the middle of the week with no problem. Although two hours is a very doable trip to go home on the weekends, and I should feel grateful because of the friends I know who are a plane ride away from their home and families. I know how important it is to be to be within an evening’s drive away from my family. I grew up with a very close family and I consider most of my cousins to have the title of "siblings" rather than “cousins” because that’s how close we are. Being completely separated from them more for than a month, we start to go into freak-out mode. I can only hope that my kids one day look at me the way I look at my mom and have the close relationship with their cousins that I do.
With all that being said, here are my top three reasons why you shouldn’t be more than a car's drive away from your mom.
1. When you get really sick, she can hop in the car to come take care of you.
This past spring, I had a kidney infection and had to go to urgent care. By the time I arrived back at my apartment my mom was waiting to surprise me. When I called to tell her how urgent it was that I see a doctor, because of the intense pain I was having, she told me if I needed her to come up and go with me she would. But I knew I needed to make the adult decision and experience an emergency health issue on my own (not to mention the pain being so bad I also didn’t want to wait any longer). She stayed with me that night and made sure I was feeling well before she left in the morning. It meant so much to me that even though she knew I was alright with going alone, that she made the drive to come stay with me for such a short amount of time.
2. She can surprise you on the weekends.
Just when I think I can't go home because of a school-related obligation I already committed to, and I'm bummed out because it feels like forever since I've been home, I hear a knock at the door. Guess who it could be. Here to take me and my sister out for a fun afternoon in Lawrence/KC is mom, standing outside with a smirk on her face that says, "Gotcha."
3. When your car is having issues, she can meet you halfway and trade you her car for yours.
After tutoring one afternoon, my blue beauty, Becky, was giving me grief and wouldn't turn over for me. With the help of a friend, I got her started. I made one phone call to my mom, and she was in the car in 20 minutes buckled and ready to meet me halfway in Lola to trade cars for the week so she could get Becky all fixed up for me.
Where did this woman come from? How can someone be so selfless? Just when I think she's reached perfection, she surprised me yet again with her selfless heart. I've always said that I want to be exact the person my mom is when I get older, and she continues to make me strive toward that goal. The countless number of things my mom has done for me over the years blows my mind and I have no clue as to how I am deserving of such a love like the one she shows me. She is my supporter, motivator, inspiration, soundboard, strength and example of how to be a faithful woman. But above all she is my mom and I feel incredibly blessed to be able to hold the title of being her daughter!
