Let's just stop for a moment and truly, REALLY ponder about this. How many of us go through life firmly believing we are totally different from our mothers? There has not been a woman I have met who hasn't grown up thinking they are night while their mothers are day. Personally, I have had so many differences with my mother I truly believe I could write "the" book on the subject.
Those crazy years of not ever seeing eye to eye, of constant arguments, of terrible guilt, of always wishing myself to be far away have passed, however, I am not going to lie and say "I understand my mother now that I'm older" or attempt to proclaim to be "the bigger person who forgives and forget." No, but I will admit (with utter shock) :) that in spite of all that's been said and done, and in more ways than I care to acknowledge...we "could" be very "similar." I do console myself by thinking that the similarity comes from my having inherited her virtues, not her faults :)
And so, having passed the initial "shock" and in an effort to continue down the road of happiness and embrace only what's clean and simple, I hereby confess that I am a "bit" like my mother and admit (shock, again!) that all those arguments and disagreements were not in vain, but instead a valuable lesson for me to be a better mother.
Finally, as I enjoy so many precious moments with my lovely daughter I realize that while I cannot "forgive and forget" I can honestly say: Thank you, Mom!
Note- Photo by Weheartit.com