Although I have officially finished my blog series for Gary Kayye's Branding of Me course, there was one more blog that needed to be written. This post is about the person who has supplied all the photos, the old memories and some of the ideas for my blogs all semester. My mom was behind the scenes keeping this blog afloat, like she has done for pretty much everything in my life. So, for this Mother's Day, I thought I would use my new platform to share just a few of the ways my mom has single-handedly held my life together.
I wrote in a previous blog that I have and always will be a daddy's girl, but it works out because my younger brother is most definitely a mama's boy. Yes, I may have picked on him when he was younger, but in my opinion he always started it with some annoying little action. So, my mom and I were easily divided from the start. She would side with Mason, and my dad would side with me, usually to continue poking fun at them. For a long time, while this didn't bother me, it was noticeable.
I used to think it was just a matter of my dad and I being more similar in personality. But I have realized now, my mom and I are much more similar than I ever noticed.
In every friend group that I have ever been a part of, I have been the responsible one. I get this from my mom. I make sure no one is being reckless or rude. I am constantly aware of how we are acting in public and if we are being too loud. I organize dinners, trips and plans. I am the one who remembers to check the weather before having a beach day or to pack the essentials. I make sure no one leaves anything behind. Little things like this have always been on my mind. I can't help but be the responsible friend. I know this comes from a lifetime of similar reminders from my mom.
I like to think that I have my life together now, and I attribute that to my mom showing me how to always be thinking ahead and creating a plan. This character trait has served me well in school and in professional roles. Former employers have referred to me as mature beyond my years, and I think it is something that has set me apart from others.
In high school, especially during the college application process, I felt the weight of the world on me. Everyone knew that I wanted to attend UNC, and I was going to be so embarrassed if I did not get in and learned that I had not worked hard enough all those years. This was a time where my mom and I butted heads a lot. What I needed and wanted more than anything was to just enjoy my senior year and spend time with my friends, but I was told to stay home, do homework, work on essays, etc. My process involves procrastination because I do my best work under pressure. She didn't get it, but now I can look back and appreciate the arguments and the late nights rewriting essays.
It all paid off and now more than ever I understand the value of hard work and the sacrifices that have to be made sometimes to achieve your goals. This is all thanks to my mom.
Now, I know that my mom and I have gotten closer since I came to college. It is crazy how much things change when you realize you won't be seeing the same person every single day. I find myself calling her more and more often just to share random things that are going on with my school projects, my job or my social life. A lot of the phone calls to my mom this year about being accepted to grad school or receiving my job offer started with "Guess what?" Hopefully by now, she knows that means good news is to follow.
I have a lot to be thankful for and my mom is most definitely at the top of that list. I know I do not say it enough but she has no idea how much I do appreciate her (although sometimes annoying) reminders about deadlines, events or random tasks. There are a lot of people who are not as fortunate as I am to have someone like this in their life. I am not one for showing a lot of affection but I do love her.
Happy Mother's Day.
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