Day 242

#np - Momisms by Anita Renfroe

Mothers and daughters.  What a funny combination.  The perfect mix for the best and worst of days.  In my life, my worst fights have been with my mom.  Why are they the worst?  They aren't the worst because the meanest things are said.  They aren't the worst because fights or objects are thrown.  That's definitely not the kind of relationship my mom and I have.  They're the worst because I don't leave with a sense of satisfaction.  I don't leave thinking "Yes, I got her!"  I leave thinking "I just fought with one of the people who loves me unconditionally."  

The best days, man, those days are wonderful.  My mom and I can spend the day doing everything or nothing at all and it will be wonderful.  It's great to be around someone who you don't have to put up a front with.  My mom has seen me in every condition.  She's seen me at my worst and at my best.  And she doesn't judge me.

In thinking about today's blog post, I kept thinking about a new acronym my mom has started posting to my facebook.  PSG.  PSG stands for "Pretty, Smart Girl."  All growing up my mom called me "pretty girl" and it was honestly the moniker I loved the most.  Other nicknames may signify that you're a close friend to me but "pretty girl" was between me and mom.  Recently, she added the "smart" to it.  I'm guessing that she picked it up from The Help (a fantastic movie) and decided that she needed to acknowledge my studious side (although she's always been supportive of my educational pursuits and I've never felt like education wasn't a priority - I always knew she thought I was smart).  

I can't help but think about girls and women who don't get this affirmation from their mothers.  Mothers are so important to a girl's socialization and maturation.  I'm so lucky to have had a wonderful mom.  I know she doubts herself sometimes.  But she shouldn't.  She taught me to be compassionate.  She taught me to value love and knowledge.  She taught me to be a fighter.