I am 36 years old and have 3 kids of my own, but I will be the first to say that I still need my mom.
She’s the one I call when I need a good recipe for meatloaf, when I’m choosing flowers for my yard, or when I can’t remember how many teaspoons are in a tablespoon (it’s 3 by the way).
My kids are little. They still need me a lot. My 2 year old thinks she needs me every time she has to go to the bathroom and I still regularly help my boys blow their noses or rinse the shampoo out of their hair. I may have graduated from needing my mom for these basic types of needs, but that doesn’t mean I don’t still need her.
I still tell her when I’m sick, even though she doesn’t live in town. Most days I check in with her whether it’s a text, phone call, or email. She’s still someone I want to share things with, from the mundane – when my roses are blooming—to the milestones—when I finish a big project or my kids do something new.
As a teenager, I’m sure I told her I didn’t need her. I thought I was old enough to know how to do everything on my own. If only I knew then what being an adult was really like!
I am so thankful for my mom. It sounds trite, but I know she will always love me, in the same way, I will always love my kids.
As a mom myself I now understand her love for me so much more. Our relationship deepened when I became a mom. I began to understand how all-consuming and demanding and wonderful children are.
There was a transition in our relationship when I moved out and went to college and got married. She was still my mom, but she became more of a friend and cheerleader. But she will always be my mom and I will always be her daughter. And some days, when life is hard I still just need her to be my mom.
If I’m honest, there is a prideful part of me that thinks I don’t need a mom. I like to think I have things figured out and can do life on my own. It’s hard for me to ask for help. But it feels good to call my mom and cry sometimes and to know that she will always be there. No matter what.
As my kids grow up and need me less day-to-day, I will hold onto the knowledge, that no matter how old they are, I will always be their mom. And I hope and pray I will always be there when they need me.
If you aren’t close to your mom, I hope you have an older woman in your life who you can call when you need advice. No matter how many kids you have, you’re never too old to need a mom.
