In honor of mom

Kids and adults see the world completely differently.  Mostly in that parents have a lot of responsibility but kids are just self-centered and oblivious.  When I was little, my mom used to do and say certain things that I just did not understand. I would think "that's just mom being mom."  When I would question her, she would say "you just wait, one day you will understand."  Secretly I didn't think I would.  However, more and more I have noticed that I am doing those same things that I always thought I would never do.  For example:

1.  My mom has always loved vegetables and, like any good mother, made us eat them regularly.  We of course only ate them because we had to.  My least favorites have always been broccoli and squash, which my mom really likes.  She always said she developed a taste for them when she was an adult and we likely would too.  I thought she was crazy.  I've never really warmed up to broccoli, but I have recently decided that squash is delicious!  Saute it in a little olive oil with salt and pepper - yum!  I think of mom every time I eat it.

2.  Growing up, we didn't eat fast food much, but once a week we would drive an hour to see my grandma and on the way we'd get Taco Bell or McDonalds.  Mom would always make an extra stop at Schlotzsky's for herself because she never liked fast food.  I knew it was bad for you but I didn't care.  Now I've done a lot of reading on nutrition, and I only eat fast food when we're traveling or in a pinch.  It's not that I don't like the taste, I just can't enjoy it when I know what I'm putting in my body - gross!  I do love french fries though.

3.  Every time we would go on vacation, my mom would make us clean the house before we left.  At least make our beds and tidy the living room.  I could never understand why that was so important - we were going on vacation!  Let's just go!  Who cares if it's clean, we're not going to be there to see it!  But now I totally get it and I do the same thing.  I don't want to come home to a dirty house, it's enough work to unpack and get back into a routine.  So I make a point to tidy before I leave.

4.  Mom has always loved landscaping and gardens and beautiful flowers.  I always said that when I grew up I wouldn't have any landscaping because it wasn't important to me and wasn't worth the work of planting them.  I don't like to garden and get my hands dirty.  Again, mom would always say "when you have your own house you will want to have pretty flowers, trust me."  She is right!  I still don't really like planting things, but I'd do it to have a pretty yard.  And I would love to have a vegetable garden!

5.  Before my family moved and we were looking for a house, mom always wanted a yard with trees in it.  It always seemed to me that she placed an abnormal amount of importance on the shade situation of the yard and neighborhood.  I thought "you live in the house, not the yard."  James and I haven't bought a house yet, but I can say that I am not impressed by the new neighborhoods with new houses but no trees.  Trees make everything prettier, and more inviting, especially in this hot climate.  I can just see myself going through a neighborhood and saying "we can't live here, there are no trees!"

I think I was a little narrow-minded as a kid, but I guess I have seen the light - mom's choices and preferences in these areas completely make sense to me now.  She said I would understand someday, and she was right (of course!).  I guess moms really do know best. And I've learned never to say never.

Happy belated Mother's Day mom!  I think you are a wonderful mom and I love you.