Growing pains

"Growing Up" has proven to be the most humbling and painful experience of my life, and equally as harsh on my parents, yet gratifying for them at the same time. I can't even express all of the gratitude and understanding I have developed for my parents, and in particular my mother. I have always appreciated them both, but as I have gotten older I think I have begun to see my mother's side more.

Having a rather typically frustrating mother-daughter relationship in earlier years, I am pleased that things have changed. Now, I truly enjoy my mom, and better yet, understand her (more). It's amazing, before you move out of the house, little things like mountains of dirty clothes, overflowing waste bins, and warm dinners were provided by this magical fairy. It never even occured to me how the clean clothes were put on my bed, or who finally broke down and put the roll of toliet paper back on the dispenser, it just happened, and clearly it was the magical fairy. Then, I moved away, and for some odd reason the magical fairy didn't follow me. She wasn't there to drag the trashcans to the road on trashday, she wasn't there to run my homework to me when I forgot it on the kitchen table, and she wasn't even there when it was time for clean sheets. Then, I learned that the magical fairy was actually my mother. Who knew?

I recently asked my mother, "Do you feel that most of your life you have been underappreciated?" I think she said "no," but I think she definitely was and still is at times. I guess when the father is the breadwinner, it is easy to see what he does for the family and appreciate his hardwork, even if you can't fully grasp all the hours and effort he puts in for the family. A stay-home mom's job is sometimes more easily overlooked. So, when my stay-at-home mom became a working mom, yet continued to do many of the chores a house-wife would do, I really don't know how she managed it, and I am really proud of her! I have such excellent parents... extremely hard-working, caring, generous, selfless, and loving!

It seems when you finally begin to understand, appreciate and enjoy your parents, it's the same time you have to grow up and start your own life, and leave them. That is my current situation. I know I will miss my parents (and pets) very much in the next months, but at some point I have to grow up and live my own life. I just hope they realize how much I love and appreciate them!