My Mom

My mom is a wonderful and inspiring woman, but sometimes she drives me just plain crazy.

Here's the background on my relationship with mommy dearest: OK, hold onto your seats... I'm 26 and my mom is 41. Yep, she turned 15 a whole 9 days before I was born. She was 14 when she got pregnant and 14 when she married my dad. They are still married. She was a fresman in high school! My dad is 45. They had my brother when my mom was the much older age of 16! Yeah, so they worked their asses off to provide for us. Working several jobs, going to school at night, sharing an old car, and all kinds of other things to get where they are today. My mom is an accountant and my dad is an engineer! Go figure! (I told you she was inspiring)

Anyhow, as you can imagine, having a mom that is only 15 years older than you can be really fun. We've always been really close and "friends" most of the time. She knows me better than anybody, and she's always there when I need her. Since I've become a mom myself, our relationship has grown even stronger, and it really has made me appreciate even more all that she sacrificed in order for my brother and I to succeed and have everything we ever needed.

Now, all that being said... She also drives me nuts sometimes!

Last night was our stamping club meeting (I have 15 women that meet at my house once a month for a stamping class that I teach and they place orders). This is the second year for the club, and it's a really great thing for all of us. But anyways, it takes me a few hours each month to prepare - design projects, cut paper, organize supplies, etc., and with a 6 month old finding that time is not easy. I usually cram it all in the night before (Monday night this week). So, imagine my dismay that when I present one of the projects, my mom makes this snurled up face and says, "I don't like that." I was just like whatever! Holy shit was I pissed. She said this right in front of everyone else, and then they all start telling me that they do like it and are all sympathetic about it.

Now, I will admit that it wasn't one of my best projects, but I designed it using extra supplies I had left over from a stamp camp (rather than my typical design approach of creating something really beautiful and finding all the supplies I need). But, the point is that I took the time to design it, cut all the paper for it and everyone else was fine with it AND SHE has to go and make her little comment OUT LOUD! Ugh. I pretty much ignored her and went on with the class.

So, she knew she pissed me off. I come in to work this morning, and she sends me this all apologetic email. OK, but it doesn't end there.

She also includes in the email this rant that she was upset b/c she didn't get to see Maddy last night, and she's feeling bad that Jer's family gets to spend more time with her. Now, Jerry took Maddy shopping last night b/c it is way too hard for me to teach the class with her there. And, he went shopping with his Mom and Dad to one of those wholesale stores. What the hell does she want me to do? I cannot help that she lives 45 minutes away and Jer's parents live 10 minutes away. Having Jer's mom watch her during the day is the best child care situation we could ask for. I have 15 women at stamp club to stamp, not entertain my child. Ugh.

I understand that she has these feelings, but please don't make me feel bad about it. I have to do what is best for me and my family, which doesn't always mean what is best and/or the most loved by my mom. She would be more understanding of that.