Deb Linda Reminds You That Flipping MOM Will Get You a WOW

WOW. Yesterday I passed a milestone.

Which, while jarring in its own way, is likely way less painful than passing a kidney stone. Fortunately, I’m not in a position to verify that from personal experience.

You see, yesterday was my daughter’s birthday, and as of this year I have officially been a mother for more of my life than I was not a mother.

This is a cool thing.

I like being a mom. I think I’m okay at it. My kids seem to think I did all right, anyway.

(Though, trust me, there were plenty of times along the way that they would not have been of that opinion. But if your kids never get mad at you, I’m pretty sure you’re not doing something right.)

I’m quite certain both my kids share Salinger’s sentiment. Only I hope, now that they’re both adults and out on their own, they find my brand of insanity endearing rather than maddening. Just part of their mom’s quirky charm.

I do have to say, as much as I loved every phase of my children’s lives, I’m really enjoying the heck out this grown-up part. For one thing, I don’t have to watch my language nearly as much. It’s remarkably liberating to know, if you happen to let a “sh!t” or a “d@mn it” slip (or even, God forbid, the F-bomb!) in times of stress, it won’t get repeated for the teacher the next day.

Also, there is something extremely gratifying about spending time with your adult children, and realizing you all actually enjoy each each others’ company. That they are intelligent and witty (and not just because they think it rocks to have a writer mom). They have become Good People, ones who contribute society. You won’t see me talk about them much online, except in the vaguest terms, because, frankly, I think their internet footprint should be their own — I respect their privacy. But take my word for it, they are awesome.

And now, if you’ll pardon this short post, I’m going to go spend some time with the awesomeness.

Have a great weekend!

35 Replies to “Deb Linda Reminds You That Flipping MOM Will Get You a WOW”

  1. I’ve also been a mother longer than not and a grandmother for fourteen years. My kids are awesome, too. And they would definitely agree with Salinger. They would probably even add that I am more insaner than most moms. (Is insaner a word? If not, it should be.)

    1. It has letters and meaning. I think that qualifies. (Hey, I make up words all the time. Sometimes the existing ones just won’t do.)

  2. Ha! I think you win best title EVER for this one, Linda! A perfect way to end the week of Mothering.

    If there’s one thing we’ve learned this week, it’s that yes, Mothers (not unlike writers) probably HAVE to be a little bit crazy to keep up and keep sane–does that make any sense? Er, no. But, you know, I’m a mom, so I said so πŸ˜‰

    Have a great weekend with your awesomeness, dear!

  3. I will never catch up with your stat of being a mom longer than not. Had the Monster when I was 42. I miss her baby years, and am starting to hate the growing up years. She has her own mind now and thinks going to bed at a decent hour is for sissies. HA. (last night’s fight.) But I wouldn’t trade her for the world.

    1. Hey, you only have to hit 85 and you’re there!

      Enjoy these years. Even the battles will be looked back on fondly. πŸ™‚

  4. While I’m not yet to your milestone, I can see how wonderful it will be to be friends with my kids (assuming they want to) when they’re older. We still have to get through those pesky teens in a few years. I guess we’ll have to see how it goes… HBD to your daughter! Hope you have a fab weekend:)

    1. Even the teen years aren’t THAT bad. My theory is, teenagers and their parents annoy each other just enough to make the ultimate separation less painful. πŸ˜‰

  5. I’m not a mom…well, unless you count fur-kids πŸ™‚ But, I will second the grown up kids hanging with the old folks. my mom and i get along so much better now that one of us is no longer a hormonal, moody teenager πŸ˜‰

  6. on the flip side, being an adult daughter is pretty dang awesome too. i’m past the point where my parents embarrass me and i’m at the stage where i do all i can to embarrass them! ha. but seriously, this stage is way more fun than i ever anticipated. she’s still my mom and she still takes care of me, but i’m now bringing more to the relationship than whining. i’m bringing wine!

  7. Hey Linda, great post love it. Oh Yes being a MOM (everyone things oh they are just so sweet and I can handle anything cause I’AM A MOM)sure, gray hair before your time, stress before your time, etc etc etc.

    Only kidding, being a Mom is wonderful and watching your kids grow to be independant adults on their own journey gives us a great sense of accomplishment (well sometimes only kidding). Now watching gradchildren growing and coming into their own is just awesome. (If I had known how wonderful it was to have grandchildren I would have had them before my kids).

    You know what Linda I never got out of the watch the language phase (until my grandchildren came along) now that they are older I am back in the don’t have to watch the language phase.

    Looking forward to next weeks blogs from all the Debs. Have a wonderful weekend and a Happy Birthday to your daughter. May birthday people are special.

    1. Hi Marcia! I figure by the time I have grandchildren, I’ll be at an age where they can consider me “colorful.” πŸ˜‰

      And, yeah, May birthday people are very special. πŸ™‚

  8. There’s a bumper sticker that says, “Insanity is hereditary. You get it from your kids.” So maybe we can blame our “quirks” on them. I agree with you 100% about having grown children. We’ve always gotten along extremely well, but now? Like you say, it’s a real joy to spend time with them and realize that even if they weren’t my kids, I’d still love them and want to spend time with them. Same exact thing with the grandchildren, too.

  9. What a lovely tribute from a mom to her kids. I bet your kids really are awesome and you had a big hand in making them that way. πŸ™‚ Happy Mother’s WEEK.

  10. I’m not quite at the age where I’ve been a mom longer than not, but closing in on it. I definately agree about how awesome adult children are! I do think that parents of awesome kids had something to do with their awesomeness, but I can’t think what I did to make them that way. (Other than listening to them and talking *with* them instead of *at* them.)

    Congrats on reaching that milestone, and on having your own awesome kids! (and on that book thing — is it September yet?)

    1. What, you didn’t get married at ten, like me? πŸ˜‰ (Um, just kidding, for those of you who didn’t notice the wink.)

      And talking to your kids instead of at them IS really important. πŸ™‚

  11. I have not yet reached that point, as my oldest daughter is 15 and I was over twice that when I became a mom.

    However, the teacher in the classroom across the hall had me as a teacher when she was in fifth grade. That’s kind of a blow, too.

  12. I’ve only been a mom for…10 years. But already I’m catching little glimpses of what my child will be like as an adult and it really is quite cool.
    Happy birthday to your kiddo!! (Yes, if my mother-in-law still calls me and my hubby “the kids” she’s one too) LOL

  13. Love this post. You’ll probably be amused to hear I feel that way about Miss M… who’s 7. I know, I know, we have a long way to go, but she’s really for the first time at an age where we do things we both love, as opposed to things I love because she enjoys them. The other week we took a side-by-side tandem bike ride and spent two hours chatting about any and all things… And it was spectacular. At 7, I get the awesome flip side too, where she’s still a little girl and wants me to cuddle her to sleep.

  14. Aw! this is awesome!! I am sorry I missed this on Friday. I hope you had fun with her!

    It takes a concerted effort on my part to stop and enjoy the children each day they are here. Since we only have them 50% time, the days pass quickly. I had found myself getting frustrated with behaviors. Now I take a deep breath and find something positive about each of them when I am actually ready to wring necks. There is so much to love about both of them! It’s good to hear that it continues when they are grown!

    1. We had a great time! We went to an air show–my first–and it was a blast! DD is really into airplanes, which is good, since her husband is a Navy pilot.

      With kids, the days sometimes pass very slowly, too. But the years always seem to fly by. πŸ™‚

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