Day 4 - June 4th

[Madison]

Today I gave two gifts, both to my mom.

This morning I planned on walking the dog and chilling out until my brother came home from school with the car so I could head over to the bank with my check from work (yay for still depositing things manually!). My mom was going to Sears to look into appliances for our kitchen which we're remodeling this summer. At the last minute she invited me along, offering to stop at the bank, so I went along. 

As she talked to a appliance consultant in Sears, I told my mom I'd wander around. Then a wonderful idea struck me! My mom is constantly running errands, but when she takes me out lately, she'll always get a little treat like a small lunch out or a popcorn from Target. Suddenly *I* had the chance to get something for her as a complete surprise!! I quickly bought two coffees at Starbucks (so we could share the coffee-drinking moment) and rushed back just as she was saying goodbye to the consultant. The look on her face was so happy! 

Later that day though, things didn't go so well between me and my mom. I wouldn't say we necessarily fight, but we argue now and then which ends up hurting both our feelings. My mom and I are not really alike at all (thus the arguing), but one thing she did pass down was the tendency to be extremely defensive, which I can definitely be.

Don't get me wrong, my mom is really awesome; she's orderly, smart, fast working, aggressive and overachieving even though she doesn't think so. I feel like she has already done so much, does so many things every day, and still desires to get more things done. It's a little overwhelming sometimes though, especially since I have the tendency to be a passive, eccentric, bookworm-ish wallflower.

But in the end, despite our disagreements on her expectations and my failed attempts to meet them, the second gift I gave my mom today was respect. Before we sat down for dinner I managed to shove/persuade all my siblings to leave the kitchen and then apologized to my mom for my disrespect. The thing is, my mom has high expectations for me, but she has far higher ones for herself...some practically impossible to achieve as a human being. Sometimes I get so use to seeing her as "Mom" that I forget that she is also a wife, friend, mother of 4 other kids including 2 special needs,  and a college student attempting to become a nurse. The fact that she even puts thought into wanting me to achieve more every day is alone enough to deserve all my respect.

[Michele wwt]

You and your mother are very lucky to have each other....you are both wonderful! I love your gifts.....very sweet and special. Good for you!  :)

[Deb~ Community Manager]

You and Mom are way awesome! :o)

[Lois55 wwt]

You, my dear, are a wonderful daughter! And your Mom sounds pretty super too! You have a wonderful way with words, have you ever thought of writing as a future endeavor?

Take care, keep on giving those great gifts! Have a blessed day..