I’m more like Mom than I thought

My Mom turned 91 this year and is very excited that I am serving in the Peace Corps. Like all my family, she is supportive because she knows it is my dream. Even if she doesn’t quite understand it, she wants what I want, as long as it is not immoral or harmful. The unconditional love and support from her and all my family made it both easier and harder to leave in August. Since my departure, I’ve been thinking a lot about my Mom and her huge influence on my life.

I used to think my Mom and I were complete opposites. Growing up, I was a tomboy, I would throw on some clothes, pull my hair into a ponytail or back with a headband, and I was ready to go. I had no patience or desire to curl my hair, learn to wear makeup, or walk in high heels. My Mom ‘put on her face’ every morning, she religiously has her hair done every week, her nails are manicured, she takes very good care of herself. She dragged me to Avon or MaryKay makeover parties, so I would at least learn how to do these things when I ‘grew up’. My routine is not much different as an adult, but I now wear some lipstick, I try to keep my skin soft with lotion, I even highlight my hair occasionally. I take good care of myself like my Mom taught me.

My Mom is an avid reader and she enjoys good movies. I have those same passions and we enjoy discussing our latest reads or movies we’ve seen.  My Mom is competitive, just play a simple card game with her to learn that about her. My friend Sherry once told me that I have a fierce competitive streak when we were playing some silly game like Pictionary at a girls’ night. I couldn’t believe it, but she was right, and I know just where it comes from. I realize that I spend my free time much in the same way as my Mom.

My Mom is a flexible cook. One of our favorite family meals was fried fish we pulled out of the Gulf on Dauphin Island before we had even unloaded the car. Mom had her electric fry pan, crushed the potato chips we had on hand as breading, and we ate those fish before they even knew they were out of the water. Because of my Mom, I can make do with what’s on hand. I recently made biscuits with yogurt instead of milk and they tasted yummy!

My Mom is an adventurer. She made every military transfer, and there were many, an adventure. Home was not a single place or town, it was with our family. If our Dad was not with us, then ‘coming home’ meant coming to where we were. I now see that my adventurous spirit comes largely from my Mom because she made it okay and fun.

Okay, I am still a tomboy and my Mom is still the belle of the ball. However, when it comes to my core values and what brings me lasting joy, I am more like my Mom than I once thought.