Mother's Day thoughts...

It’s Mother’s Day today here in the US and I’m up early drinking my hot tea and thinking about the day.

We’ll be meeting up with one of my sisters and her family in a few hours to have some Mother’s Day lunch, but I’m sitting here as I do every year hoping that I’ve been a good mother, and that I haven’t warped the kid too badly :) I mean let’s face it, all parents warp their children in some way—it’s just the amount and severity, right? :)

I know that’s probably not a ‘normal’ way to spend the start of Mother’s Day, but it’s something I’ve done since the very first year, and it just kind of stuck. Taking stock is a good way to give myself sort of a ‘report card’ and see what I can improve on in the new year.

So what did I find?

Well, I’ve really lucked out by having an amazing kidlet who makes this whole ‘mother’ job easier than it might have been. The kidlet gets pretty good grades (we’re struggling a big with honors chemistry this year, but it’s not for lack of trying), he doesn’t get into trouble and he hangs out with good kids who won’t warp him much more than we have already. (Hey, I was a band kid, too, I know how that goes...lol!) He’s got a terrific sense of humor, an easygoing personality and a great outlook on life. He loves with his whole heart and feels things very deeply – which can be both a blessing and a curse, but one that I think allows him to experience life to the fullest. He’s got a good moral compass, is very compassionate and full of curiosity for life. He got his permit several months ago and his driving is coming along well, even on the stick shift. Yeah, we’ve got some normal teenage stuff like leaving socks on the floor and having to remind him to do chores, but he’s a terrific kid, and I’m thankful each and every day to have this wonderful person in my life.

As for me...well, I’m not as strict as I sometimes should be about making him get those chores done, and when I’m not, the hubby steps in and evens that out. (We’re a very good parenting team in that sense.) But I’ve also got some good stuff going for me. I feel like the kidlet can come and talk to me about anything and does. We’re very close, but he is also an independent, stand on his own kid. He’s much more confident than I was at his age, and I can see he’s already worked through issues that it took me well into adulthood to work out!

He also saw me start to go after my dream (writing) in my early 30’s and he’s seen both all the hard work and the perks as each book comes out and hits the shelves. I think because of that, he’s allowed himself to think outside the box when it comes to upcoming careers for himself. But he’s also seen me take a part time job at Starbucks so the family can have health insurance, so I hope that’s taught him that sometimes you just have to suck it up and do what’s necessary while still never giving up on your dreams and passions in life.

I probably need to provide a better example of keeping a clean house, staying in shape and being better about keeping in touch with those we love and a few things like that, but since those are an ongoing struggle for me....it might be several more years before I can boast those among my OWN accomplishments. But those are definitely things I need to work on so I can be a better role model for kidlet.

But for right now, I’m going to go wake him up so we can start the day and I can enjoy all the blessings I have in my life, including one very terrific kid. :)

I hope everyone else has a terrific day—even if their children are the four legged furry variety :) Those need loving parents, too! (I say as mine are crying for treats.)

Tina
www.tinagerow.com