Tuesday, August 21, 2007

Always a Mom

Well, my baby started sophomore year yesterday. Jeez, it's so sad how terribly quickly time is flying. When he was born I thought 18 years would be forever and I would have plenty of time to be with him. Now he's almost grown, spreading his wings and becoming more independent every day. Soon he'll be driving and dating (he's very popular with the girls) and having his own life. And yet as sad as it makes me to have him grow up so fast I am so proud of him. I have been truly blessed with a wonderful son who is becoming quite an amazing young man and even though I will always worry about him I know whatever he does with his life he will live with integrity, honesty and nobility.

It hasn't been easy being a full-time working single mom but I think I've done a good job of raising my son without the influence of my mother. I was recently reminded of this when I received this note from my friend Charles:

MOTHER SAYINGS

1. My mother taught me TO APPRECIATE A JOB WELL DONE. "If you're going to kill each other, do it outside. I just finished cleaning."

2. My mother taught me RELIGION. "You better pray that will come out of the carpet."

3. My mother taught me about TIME TRAVEL. "If you don't straighten up, I'm going to knock you into the middle of next week!"

4. My mother taught me LOGIC. "Because I said so, that's why (we've all heard this one)."

5. My mother taught me MORE LOGIC. "If you fall out of that swing and break your neck, you're not going to the store with me."

6. My mother taught me FORESIGHT. "Make sure you wear clean underwear, in case you're in an accident(I bet every mom's said this!)."

7. My mother taught me IRONY. "Keep crying, and I'll give you something to cry about (one of my mom's faves!)."

8. My mother taught me about the science of OSMOSIS. "Shut your mouth and eat your supper."

9. My mother taught me about CONTORTIONISM. "Will you look at that dirt on the back of your neck!"

10. My mother taught me about STAMINA. "You'll sit there until all that spinach is gone (for me it was lima beans, and I still won't eat them)."

11. My mother taught me about WEATHER. "This room of yours looks as if a tornado went through it."

12. My mother taught me about HYPOCRISY. "If I told you once, I've told you a million times. Don't exaggerate!"

13. My mother taught me the CIRCLE OF LIFE. "I brought you into this world, and I can take you out."

14. My mother taught me about BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION. "Stop acting like your father!"

15. My mother taught me about ENVY. "There are millions of less fortunate children in this world who don't have wonderful parents like you do."

16. My mother taught me about ANTICIPATION. "Just wait until we get home (this one used to terrify me!)."

17. My mother taught me about RECEIVING. "You are going to get it when you get home!"

18. My mother taught me MEDICAL SCIENCE. "If you don't stop crossing your eyes, they are going to get stuck that way (this one scared me so much I still don't cross my eyes!)."

19. My mother taught me ESP. "Put your sweater on; don't you think I know when you are cold?"

20. My mother taught me HUMOR. "When that lawn mower cuts off your toes, don't come running to me."

21. My mother taught me HOW TO BECOME AN ADULT. "If you don't eat your vegetables, you'll never grow up."

22. My mother taught me GENETICS. "You're just like your father."

23. My mother taught me about my ROOTS. "Shut that door behind you. Do you think you were born in a barn?"

24. My mother taught me WISDOM. "When you get to be my age, you'll understand (funny, I still don't)."

25. My mother taught me about JUSTICE. "One day you'll have kids, and I hope they turn out just like you."

Now my mom didn't say some of these but I've always been very careful not to repeat anything my mom did say when we were growing up because even though she tried her best with six children she wasn't always very nice. I never let my son forget how much he means to me, how blessed my life is because of him and how thankful I am for being his mother. But I always remind him that I know how ticklish he is and that I can still outrun him!

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