10 Signs That You're Turning Into My Mother

Yesterday I was emailing back and forth with an old friend (and mom), who was telling me about an upcoming school play. She said she didn't think she'd be able to wait till the actual performance and "might just drop in on a rehearsal." At which point I wrote back and said, "You are SUCH a Nannette—that is exactly the kind of thing Mama would do!" (That's my mother and me,sharing a joke we'll need to pray about later, in the shadow of Dave's grill.) I started thinking—everybody says we'll eventually turn into our mothers, but what are the warning signs? I don't know about YOUR mother, but I can tell you how you'll know if you're turning into MINE:
(1) You arrive everywhere 45 minutes early.
(2) You especially enjoy arriving 45 minutes early for lunch appointments with your daughter, so that when she arrives ON TIME, you get to say, "Where in the world have you been—I've been waiting forever."
(3) You express disapproval with the words, "Now, I just don't go along with that," which implies a certain moral depravity in anyone who DOES "go along with that"—whatever "that" is.
(4) You cannot leave a tea glass resting idle for more than 5 minutes without pitching its contents in the sink, then giving the stunned would-drinker an innocent, "I'm so sorry—I thought you were through with that."
(5) You cannot listen to Gaither songs without nodding your head and patting your foot in rhythm to the music.
(6) You cannot pass a garden shop without stopping—ever. [This is where I get a little jumpy. I'm doing that one already.]
(7) You can convince your husband that he's "really gonna enjoy" whatever social function you mean to drag him to. [Still honing my skills on that one.]
(8) You make everybody who sets foot in your house feel welcome and loved. [Working on it. But not yet at Mama's advanced level.]
(9) You're not afraid to laugh at yourself. [Heaven knows I give myself ample opportunity on that front.]
(10) You're a daughter's best friend:)

 

Comments

[Sarah]

Hey girl, I am very proud to be showing some signs of being like Nannette. She was a big part of my childhood and I love her dearly. But you're not going to get the "I've been waiting forever" from me, yet. That one may take a while. I can make a list of signs that show that I'm turning into my Mother. Love it, but scary. We have great women in our lives that we can turn into.

[Glenda Mitchell]

I can only hope to turn into mine - she was a godly woman to the last!

[valerieluesse]

Love that!

[valerieluesse]

Sarah, we are very lucky to have Mamas like ours! Spent many a happy weekend with yours looking after me! (But I still can't make Miss Jackie's biscuits:)

[Peggy Martin]

I had every intention of going to bed early....until I found your blog. Forget early. I have been reading this for nearly 2 hours! I love your mom and dad so much. Val, this is great. You a so talented.

[valerieluesse]

Aw! I'm sorry I kept you up late! But I'm thrilled that you enjoyed the blog. Thank you!