Thursday, September 23, 2010

Becoming my mom

Recently, I went to an all a school reunion for my high school. It was great. I got to see many old friends, and I really had a good time. Some of the people I hadn't seen in 30 years.

There was another reunion of two classes, mine and the one ahead of me just the other day. I didn't go to that one -- mainly because I had gone to the other and I knew that my best high school friend had done the same thing. From the pictures, it looks as though I missed out.

One of my re-acquaintances and I have been talking. It seems that I have brought back some friendships due to these reunions. What I have learned is that sooner or later, we all become our parents -- or at least some version of them. Some of my old school chums have even begun to look like their parents.

But here we are, in mid-life. Most of us have children of our own. Although times have changes so much since I was a school girl, many things remain the same. And it is in that sameness that we find the similarities. Problems that faced our parents at this time in their lives -- well, I am up against the same situations. It makes me wish for my mom.

If she were around, I would love to pick her brain to find out how she handled various situations. But she is not here, so I muddle through the best that I can. I find myself looking back to how she handled things with me -- and I try to pick the best of what I remember and go forward with that information. In many respects, I find that I AM becoming my mom.