Whether you say mom, mother, mommy, ma, mama or madre, we all know what the word means. The bond between a mother and daughter is so dear, and we often take on the stereotype of mommy’s girls because, afterall, there’s no better place than in mom’s arms. But do you ever take a step back to watch the whirlwind of tasks a mother does in just a single day? It took me 20 years to step back, observe and be amazed at all the responsibilities a mother takes on.
She’s the first person to wake us up every morning. She turns on the lights, wakes us up and brushes our hair for school. After putting up a fight over the outfit choice she’s made for us to wear (because fashionistas aren’t fashionistas until at least age five) she puts us on the bus or drops us off at school. She makes our lunch for us when we don’t like what’s on the school’s menu because we’re too picky to venture out of our the sugar food group. She does all of this with a smile, ease and still has time to help us with homework — she’s secretly a math magician, I swear.
Fast-forward eight years years ahead. The confusing teenage years are slowly creeping up and you begin getting more frustrated with your mother. You’ll question why you suddenly have to help out so much around the house. You will wonder why she is yelling more and preventing you from doing things with your friends. You’ll get in arguments and say things you don’t mean. She’ll say things along the lines of “You’ll understand when you’re older,” or, “I’m your mom and what I say goes.” There’s also my personal favorite, “Because I said so.” But, did you realize the house is always spotless when you come home from school, even though your mother has had a long day at work? I bet you didn’t notice she did your laundry, cleaned the bathrooms, organized the mess her husband made in the garage and will ask you to take your items up to your room. How dare she have the audacity to ask you to take your shoes and miscellaneous items up to your room, right?
The years are going by and you’re caking more make-up on your face and requesting more expensive gifts for Christmas. I bet you never thought of how hard your mom probably worked to get you that $65 Naked palette or hundreds of dollars in Hunter boots. You’re home less and out more with your friends, you also have a curfew, which you often like to push the boundaries on. Have you ever thought of how hard your mother works to put food on the table every night? While you spent your days and evenings with friends being a teenager, did you think about how lonely she could be without you? You’re probably leaving for college in a few years and you don’t even know your best friend is right before your very eyes.
A year later, you’ll meet the love of your life and your mother will turn into your worst enemy. Your curfew becomes earlier and your arguments will get louder. You’ll question why she hates your boyfriend so much and she’ll say things you never thought would ever come out of her mouth. Prepare for life to happen, because that love of your life will break your heart and guess who will be there to hold you and pick up the pieces? The woman who got you dressed for school every morning, and held your hand while you waited for the bus. That woman who you left at the dinner table while you were running around being a pre-teen, the woman you screamed at because you wanted an extra hour late at night with a group of friends you shouldn’t have been hanging out with in the first place. That woman who told you the boy was trouble and didn’t only have eyes for you, she was right about it all. She told you so and you didn’t listen because you had to make your own mistakes to realize she was only trying to help you avoid this heartbreak, this disappointment.
Mothers do their best to raise us, but we don’t get a behind the scenes look at our mothers lives while we’re at school or out with friends. She handles the bills, she gets her husband dressed and off to work, she manages to always put food on the table and remind us to stop picking on our younger siblings while also trying to raise them too. She pays the mortgage, she pays the insurance on your first car you’ll most likely wreck and she even pays for your obnoxious phone bill. Don’t worry with all of your annoyances, she’ll still plan you the most amazing graduation party and help you pick out the best college. A mother will help you chase your dreams, and she’ll pick you up along the way when you get knocked down. You may not get to talk everyday because you’re off at college, but when you need motivation during hard times, remember you are there working towards that degree to make her proud.
Your mother is waiting by the dinner table during Thanksgiving break, excited for you to come home. She’ll be at that same dinner table making your favorite Christmas cookies for the winter holidays, and she’ll wait at the door with open arms when you come home for summer break. Even beyond that, when your college days come to a close, your mother will be there to help you get ready on your wedding day. She’ll eventually be called grandma and days and nights at grandmas house will become the highlight of the week. Don’t ever forget, you wouldn’t be the person you are now if it wasn’t for your mother.
She’s the most self-less, kind, loving person in your life and the unfortunate reality is, she won’t walk this earth forever. So, the next time you argue with her, apologize. The next time you leave for a week or weekend (or longer), hug her just a few seconds more. Always say I love you, and when she asks you to text or call her when you’ve arrived safely, don’t forget; do it. When you’re home for the holidays, cling to her a little harder because, you don’t know this, but she worked way too hard on the holiday decorations around the house just to assure it was perfect for your family. She’s the glue that holds not only you, but the whole family together. Her ability to do all of this and more makes her a bigger superhero then Superman himself.