Becoming my Mom

       In class last Wednesday, there was an interesting discussion about becoming your mother. Professor Sexson always says that myth is the precedent behind every action. I had never thought that this concept could be so connected to my life. He mentioned that this can even be connected to the concept of becoming just like your mother.

       I had never thought that I was like my mom until these past few years. Before I came to college, in my childhood years, my mom and I had a complicated relationship. At times we were like best friends, but when we argued it was terrible. Our arguments involved alot of yelling and it seemed like we could never work things out without hurting each other. As much as we tried, during our arguments we would never seem to let the other person speak, so it just ended up being a screaming match. I often thought it was strange how we could go from getting along so well to fighting so much, sometimes even within the same day.

      It wasn't until after I moved out of my parents house that my mom and I started to get along much better. Sure we argued sometimes, but not nearly as much. Now we have much more of a best friend relationship, and she's the person who is always there for me. A few years ago, my aunt said something to me which has stuck with me to this day. She told me that my mother and I used to fight so much because we were essentially the same. She said we were both so stubborn with each other and set in our ways that we fought alot. With non-family members, my mom and I are both timid and rarely start arguments with others. However, we know each other so well that when we clash, it ends badly. I had never thought of it this way. But when I look at it now, I can see that my mom and I are extremely similar.

      This idea was enforced this weekend when my boyfriend was talking about my mother and the way she talks to me on the phone. He has this silly sarcastic voice for her. He told me that in twenty years he can picture me talking the same exact way and has already seen signs of me talking on the phone like my mom.

      When I was younger, I had always noticed how jumpy my mom was. The littlest movement scared her and she always let out this startled gasp every time something frightened her. This was especially terrifying when she was teaching me to drive and every time I took a corner too fast she would grasp the overhead handle and gasp like we were going to get in a wreck. As a young driver, this terrified me and I always thought it was annoying. However, I now notice that I am super easy to frighten. I live in an apartment with my boyfriend and another male roomate. I often sit on the couch, which is right beside the door, and every time anyone suddenly opens the door, I gasp and just about have a heart attack. My roomates make fun of me because even the opening of a door can make my heart beat faster. I guess I am becoming like my mom more than I thought.

     Myth is the precedent behind every action. What I've learned is that my actions today are highly influenced by my mother. Many of the traits that define me today are traits that my mom possesses. As much as I refused to believe this as a child, I am surely becoming just like my mother, and now I have come to realize that I something to be proud of.

Mom and I back in the day