My mom is pretty great. I’m not normally a blubber and bawl kind of gal, but every once in a while something gets to me and she’s always there to give me a pep talk and lovingly toss me back in the game.
I’m also usually rather self-confident, pretty sure in who I am, but last night a little insecurity that’s been niggling at me for a while came forward while watching Say Yes to the Dress, Southern Edition. There was heart-tugging moment when a young woman finally found a dress her matriarchal grandmother approved of and was willing to pay for. The young woman whispered, “My granddaddy would’ve liked this one.”
I bit my lip.
The camera zoomed in on the watch the bride always wears, the watch that used to belong to her granddaddy.
I scrunched up my nose and squinted.
Little tears came out and I swore under my breath.
I wasn’t crying so much about the memory of some bride’s granddaddy as I was about that stupid little insecurity that’s been making me feel kinda down recently. The dang-blasted watch just let me release those dumb tears that have been wanting to come out.
A little while later, Mom saw I was bummed and pulled me down on the easy chair next to her. She gave me a long pep talk, reminding me that where I am in life is in transition, and that in itself isn’t so bad. She reminded me what I have ahead of me – multiple options, each of which is a win-win scenario. She reminded me of who I am and how awesome that is. Then she ended with what I’ve come to call the Standard Mom & Dad Pep Talk, “You are a beautiful, intelligent, talented young woman…”
I always chuckle at this point because I get a kick out of the fact that she and Dad both say those same exact words when I’m moanin’, groanin’ and feeling sorry for myself. If I ever have a daughter, I’ll probably say the same to her when she’s having a stress-induced breakdown or self-image issues.
But the point of all this is that I have a mom who will shove everything to the side to give me a pep talk at midnight. I’ve learned that not everyone has a mom like that and that makes me sad. Not everyone has a dad who will give them pep talks like that and offer words of wisdom on a regular basis, and that makes me sad too. I’ve got it pretty great.
Thanks, Mom and Dad! I love you!
