We’re down here in San Dawg (again) for Mother’s Day and it’s been glorious. Trips to the Wild Animal Park (I REFUSE to call it it’s new name… it will always been the WAP), the yacht club, the park… it’s just been great.
But primarily the reason we were here was to spend time with Mom. Reading other people’s posts about their mothers always makes me smile, because I tended to have a VERY different relationship from my mother growing up.
She was more of the crazy younger sister than mom… the one who let me have parties at the house, always dressed in cute, way-too-young clothes and almost got asked to my prom. My god… prom. Traumatizing for ME as the person in high school having to deal with it, but highly amusing for her.
She had a reputation for being kinda nuts as a parent. Throwing the parties, then grounding me for not making my bed. Letting me go out with boys, but threatening to disown me if she ever found out I’d had sex. Things were always a little bit off kilter, a little unknown with her. Even now, a stray sentence or thought can send her into a rage, or a funk, or make her stop talking to everyone altogether. My father and I have spent years treading lightly.
But somehow we have come out of it closer that I would have ever imagined. When things are good, they are fantastic. She is my best friend, my confidant, the BonBon to my son, a wild and crazy lady who tickles him until he cries laughing and loves to take him to the Zoo. She taught me the need to have activities, adventures that he and I can share. That there are fun things to be found in the mundane, day to day actions of life. That there is fun to be found everywhere.
I love that attitude, because it drags me out of my funk when I’m in one. She’s always telling me to lighten up… to get a grip… to not be so serious. And I think sometimes she’s right.
No one has a perfect relationship with their mother. Even June Cleaver had to have had some demons… I seriously think she put the kids to bed and drank vodka martinis by the gallon… no one can be THAT perfect all the time.
And while my relationship with my mom has had some SERIOUS ups and downs, both by my doing and by hers… I can’t imagine my life without her. She brings fun and emotion and drama into my life. Sometimes good, sometimes bad, but at least it’s always interesting.
And I love her. Because she really is awesome.
Do you have a less than “normal” relationship with YOUR mom???
