The other day, I found myself uttering a phrase that my mother had used countless times during my teenage years. It was unexpected and frankly, a bit alarming—especially considering how young I still feel.
My sister and I used to laugh about how our mother seemed to morph into our grandmother as she aged, confident that we would never follow suit. Yet, time slipped by unnoticed, and before we realized it, we were firmly planted in a new decade of life. We often ignored the signs, like those pesky gray hairs that sprout up at the most inconvenient times, hidden away with hair dye, or that little extra “middle-age stretch” we can easily disguise with stretchy jeans and flowy tops. We thought we had it all figured out—until that fateful afternoon.
Following a heated exchange with my teenager, I blurted out, “If all your friends jumped off a cliff, would you do it too?”
Oh my goodness. The shock on my face mirrored the realization of what had just occurred. I had heard that exact line too many times to count in my own youth! I called my sister to share my disbelief. “I can relate,” she said. “I’ve already caught myself repeating Mom’s words.”
Though she’s younger, my sister started her family sooner and was ahead of me on this slippery descent. “I didn’t want to admit it,” she confessed, “but it seems we’ve both been channeling her for years.”
Some of the classic lines that have slipped out of my mouth include:
- “Don’t make me come in there!”
- “Watch your tone with me.”
- “It’s for your own good.”
- “I have eyes in the back of my head.”
- “As long as you’re living under my roof…”
As we compared notes, we realized that every phase of our children’s growth had prompted a new set of motherly phrases. It was as if we were pursuing a degree in Motherhood with honors, and the moment those words tumbled out was our graduation day—whether we liked it or not.
In our 20s and 30s, we believed we were immune to this phenomenon. We were fierce, independent women, not destined to echo our mother’s wisdom. Yet here we are, repeating lines we once thought were exclusive to her.
“I’ll count to three.”
“I’ve had it up to here!”
“If you can’t say anything nice, don’t say anything at all.”
These memories flood back, making me realize that I’ve been my mother all along. This transformation didn’t just happen in my 40s; I had merely dressed her in different styles to avoid facing the truth.
“I’ll treat you like an adult when you start acting like one.”
I guess I’ve officially graduated to adulthood.
I owe you an apology, Mom. I regret the times we laughed about how you were becoming more like Grandma. Also, I apologize for those moments when I didn’t clean my room—just shoving everything under the bed—or for the times I lied about my whereabouts. Your sacrifices shaped our lives, and I didn’t always give you the credit you deserved.
“If I’ve told you once, I’ve told you a thousand times…” Yes, you did, just as I repeat those very words to my own children.
Glancing in the mirror, I see it clearly—a familiar reflection of my mother staring back at me. Perhaps this aging process isn’t as daunting as I once believed.
For anyone navigating the path of parenthood and considering home insemination, resources like this ACOG page provide excellent guidance. And if you’re looking for options, check out the CryoBaby Home Intracervical Insemination Syringe Kit Combo or the Impregnator At Home Insemination Kit for your journey.
In the end, we may find that embracing our mothers’ wisdom is part of what makes us who we are.