I have always joked that I share the other half of my mother’s brain. If we are out together and she is searching for the right word, I can supply it. If she forgets what’s on her schedule for next week, I can remind her. In my few years of adulthood, I have realized the many ways that we are similar. But now those similarities extend beyond like-mindedness. I have become my mother and I am totally okay with it.
Last July I gave birth to a beautiful baby girl and entered the world of motherhood. Unfortunately, the delivery of this baby was very difficult and very much mirrored my mother’s delivery of my siblings. Since then I have had some health struggles that my mother also faced following delivery. This is to the point where my mom and I now have similar scars.
As I have mentioned in previous posts, I always looked up to my mom and wanted to be like her one day. I did not expect it to be physically! However, the relationship that we have built throughout these trials in the past year is worth the pain. I now see my mom more clearly and gained a deeper respect for her and all that she has been through.
Not only is she my mother, but she is also my pastor’s wife, my friend, my mentor, my counselor, my nurse, my health coach, and my life coach. Growing up, I struggled not having someone who reached out to mentor me. I saw others in my friend group getting attention from some amazing women. In my envy of them I overlooked the blessing of having a built-in mentor right in my home.
As I matured, I realized that I should be truly thankful for a mother with such wisdom. When I have a problem, she isn’t just going to agree with me. She looks at the issues from all perspectives and allows me to make my decision. Sometimes this is hard. Sometimes I just want her to back me up, but in the end, I appreciate that she is willing to be honest with me and ask the hard questions to make me think.
Because of my mom, I have become a better person. I am a more patient wife, a more caring teacher, and a more stress-free mother. She shares wisdom from her thirty plus years of marriage to my dad. Her advice has helped me get through the bumps of the four years of my marriage. When I am dealing with a difficult student, she provides another perspective that allows me to see things through their eyes and gives me the strength to try one more day. In the past year, she has kept me from over-stressing the small stuff of raising a baby. My mom reminds that it is okay if things are not done a certain way.
I also couldn’t ask for better encouragement. If I want to step out and try something new, she will support me. If that new venture happens to be a flop she’ll either give me advice to fight through or help me start over in a new direction. I always know that no matter where I am in life or what I decide to do my mom will be my number one cheerleader.
My mother is a great woman who has not only been a blessing to me and my family, but has also had an impact on many others. I can only hope that the similarities between us increase in the future.
Martina