I'm Turning into My Parents!!

Growing up, Mom would say things to me like, "Because I said so", "When you live on your own, you can do whatever you want", "I'm not their Mom", and the ever so popular," Do you think you have to do everything that the other kids do/". I remember hating Mom's rules and swearing to myself that I would never say those things to my kids or make them do chores, or make them follow even half of the rules that I thought were so senseless. Oh, how ignorant I was!!

My Dad's words and lessons were also things that I would try to ignore. I never cared to take the time to listen and learn. I was too busy swearing that I would NEVER be like them. As I said before, how ignorant I was!!

There are times now, when I will call my Mom and complain to her about something one of my kids has done. I do this even though I know that even though she may not be laughing outwardly, she sure is enjoying it and laughing hysterically on the inside. There have even been times that I found myself having to call just to apologize for being the way I was as a child.

Yes, I am definitely turning into my Mom. The rules and expectations she set forth for me while growing up, the way she would answer my questions at times, the way she encouraged me to be the best I could be, and the way she has always comforted me when I needed her to. Dad's lessons come out in me very often too. By not wavering from the rules that were made, he taught me that life's rules were the same for all. By punishing me for things I did wrong, Dad taught me that there are consequences to our actions. I learned that girls could do just as much as boys because my Dad treated us equally and expected similar things from all of us.

Growing up, I swore I would never be like my Mom, I wanted to be different. Now, I look back at my own silliness and laugh. I may not have agreed with her when I was young, but now, I see the wisdom she holds. I see that everything she did was to benefit me. The chores taught me responsibility, the words, "I'm not their Mom', taught me that I was special to her, the phrase, "Because I said so", taught me to respect others as well as their opinions, and the question, "Do you think you have to do everything the other kids do?" taught me to be myself. Pushing me and encouraging me to do my best taught me to strive for my goals. Looking back, Mom knew what she was doing.

Yes, I find myself turning into my Mom more and more each day. The one thing I swore I would never do, I have found to be the best gift of my life. I am thankful that my Mom did and said things the way she did. If she had not; if she had left me alone like I always felt I wanted her to, I know that I would not be the person I am today. As much as I see myself turning into my Mom, I see a lot of Dad coming out too.

If I had it to do all over again, I bet I would have done the same things and acted the same way. When I was a kid, I never did appreciate all that my parents did for me or tried to teach me. It wasn't until I became a Mom myself that I really began to realize how wise they both are. When I became a parent, all that they taught me, without my knowledge, of course, began to surface. Now, looking back, I am thankful that my parents raised me the way they did, and now, I am proud to say that I am not only turning into my Mom, I am turning into the both of them.

When I look at my own children and watch them grow. I hear them saying the same things I said when I was that young. I cannot help but chuckle to myself. I know that one day, my kids will be parents too, and then, only then will they understand and begin to turn into me!