Thank You Mom!
So, today is "Mother's Day" and everyone is talking about how great their moms are. Pictures are being plastered across social media platforms. Flowers and gifts are being distributed. Dinner reservations are being fulfilled and Moms are reveling in the one day that they get all the attention that they deserve every day. (Sitting in church, the pastor jokes that a mother needs as many mothers' day for as many children as they have. In that case, my mom needs 3 Mother's day.)
So, if you have been keeping up with blog, you know that I spend quite some time griping about my mother. You know I talk about how I "feel" as though she’s crazy, insanely over-protective, and needs to relax on every level possible. Now while I have an endless list of things I believe she has done wrong as a mother- the list if things that she has done right describes the quote, "Quality over Quantity!" Not to take away from the "quantity" of what my mother has done, but it takes a special kind of person to deal with what she has. All mothers, really!
For the stress my mother causes me, it does not amount to the stress I have caused her. As you may know, I suffer from Sickle Cell Anemia. (I realize that I haven't talked about this, but I will.) My mother has spent countless hours, since I was born (4lbs premature, might I add)- sleeping by my side in the hospital bed that I couldn't seem to escape. She has been the first to diagnose all 4 times that I've had pneumonia because she heard the minor change in how I was breathing. She had cleaned up the gallons of vomit over the years that I've puked from being in intense pain crises. She has held me down and cried just as many tears as I had while having blood drawn and being given needles. She’s chased me down hospital halls with my IV trailing behind me while I felt better for a day and decided to wander around. She’s force-fed me vegetables and ensure shakes to ensure that I'd be strong and well enough to never have to get a blood transfusion.
From kindergarten to 12th grade, I've only ever missed 2 school/class trips. She has never missed a report card conference. She took the bus with me the 1st week of high school until I wasn’t scared to do it myself. She’s attended all college orientations. She’s taken me to the airport the 1st time I travelled abroad and alone. She still hands me free money whether I need it or not. She still does my hair when I ask. She still insist on buying my items when we go shopping together. She makes my favorite comfort food whenever I might need it, like she read my mind. She actually can read my mind which I’m chalking up to Mother-based-sorcery. And most of all, no matter how much we fight and argue- She never fails to tell me she loves me.
So while other people are posting selfies with their moms, and please believe I'll be doing that too- I'll be appreciating everything she did, does, and will do. We might not always be on good terms, but I am who I am because of her. As much as I'd like to deny it- I am a part of my mom and she’s a part of me. I certainly don’t say it enough, but I know she knows it: I love you, and Thank You Mom!
As always, Stay BEAUTIFUL inside, outside, sideways, and always!