Mommin’ ain’t easy. It’s messy, crazy, beautiful, wonderful, and every mom has her own style. Growing up, my mom, was of course, THE BEST! I mean, I’m a little biased, but if we were going to get into an argument of whose mom was the best, I’d fight you to the end. My mom is pretty much a saint. She’s soft spoken, has a great sense of humor and has always been my safe place. She taught me about Jesus, passed down her love of Mexican food and always forced me to see both sides. She never agreed with me just because she’s my mom, but instead forced me to see when I was wrong. She wasn’t the biggest disciplinarian – more of the type that I could do no wrong. She’s a softie (but don’t worry we turned out just fine). For the better half of my childhood, she slept on a trundle bed beside me, because I was scared, and drove me to a private school 40 mins each way, every day for at least a few years (I eventually changed schools). She always made the biggest sacrifices for me, and always made my brother and I her world. Whenever I did anything that was a little nerve wracking, like a play, sang on stage or even the day I got married, she would always make herself seen to me, smiling and making me feel at ease. There is a picture from my wedding of me walking down the aisle, and there she is standing off to the side, but still front and center, giving me that warm and accepting smile – it makes me cry every time. To this day, she remains my very best friend.
My Mimi has always been a big part of my life too – she’s like the grandma, that’s also your momma. My Mimi always did everything in her power to give me opportunities. She put me in piano lessons and singing lessons, and was always one of my biggest cheerleaders. She is generous, and always puts other people before herself. She taught me to love reading, love movies and love going out to eat. Eating out is our thing and we’re not ashamed. She is someone no one can dislike, and I don’t think she has a mean bone in her body.
The Moms Who Made Me
Now, I said every mom has her own style, and chances are, if you had a best friend or two growing up, you got to see that first hand. So, this post is not only for my own momma and mimi, but for the other mommas who had a hand in my life too.
My childhood best friend lived just a few doors down from me. We were like sisters. We spent nearly every day together and it was almost always spent at her house. I would roll into their house after school, and head to the fridge. They were from Georgia, with thick accents and a knack for good cooking. My mom wasn’t much of a cook (which is probably where I got it) but her mom was the cooking type. Their house was always filled with something delicious, and they hosted the best parties. She was the mom who made caramel apples on Halloween and pulled out the karaoke machine so we could sing. She would take us to the beach on last minute vacations and she treated me like I was her very own.
Then as a teenager, I became fast friends with someone who to this day, remains my very best friend. We were older so her mom was less of a mothering type to me, but I still learned a thing or two from her. In their house, they bicker hard, and love even harder. They aren’t afraid to tell you like it is. She’s the type who knows how to score a good deal, and mulch a flower bed or two. She taught us the ways to a good tan, and was always a safe place to go after a night of shenanigans. She showed me the ways of a southern girl who isn’t afraid to get a little dirty and get out and cut the grass. (I’ll admit I was always a little too prissy for that in my younger years.)
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Now that I’m a momma myself, I wonder how my kids will see me when they’re all grown. Will I be their safe place? Will I be the fun mom, who takes last minute vacations? Will I be the crafty mom who throws killer parties and makes caramel apples? Will I be the mom who whips up something delicious in the kitchen all the time and feeds the neighborhood kids? To some of those (ahem, the cooking) I already know that’s a no. I like to think I’ll be a blend of all the mommas who made me who I am. The biggest lesson I’ve learned from every mom I’ve encountered in life, is that there is no perfectly right way to be a mom. We all have our own style. You just love your babies, feed em’, keep em’ clean (if you can) and protect them with your whole life. This Mother’s Day, I don’t want a single thing, because if you ask me, just being a momma in general, is a gift.
Happy Mother’s Day to all the mommas out there!
-Brooke
Now, let’s…get…linking!!
NEW! I’ve started a collaborative Pinterest board for the Oh, Hey Girl! Link-Up. I would love for you to join and share your looks there too! Just send me a message on Pinterest or at Brooke@pumpsandpushups.com if you would like to be added.
Link up any post you would like to show off; your outfit, home decor, recipe, workout. Anything at all! Because, oh, hey girl! I want to see it!
Link-Up ‘Rules’
1. Follow me on Bloglovin or Instagram
2. Link back to my site from your post, you can grab a button if you like!
See who I link with here! (p.s. – if you have a new link up on your blog, leave it in the comments, so I can add to this list!)
