Proud of You

 

            A couple of weeks ago was my birthday and my mother gave me a card (along with a wonderful lunch).  In this card she wrote “I love you and dad and I are very proud of you.”  Now my mom writes this in every card that she gives me.  She probably puts this in the cards that she give to my siblings as well, but every time I see that statement in the card it makes me smile and makes me wonder why she feels the need to put “we are very proud of you” in there.  Most people just say love mom and dad.

            So now I am thinking (no it doesn’t hurt), does she feel like she did not tell me that enough when I was a kid so she is making up for it now?  By the way, my parents didn’t tell me that when I was a kid.  If that is the case does putting it in a card now make up for not saying it then?  What has changed to make them proud?

            Darn it, now I am going to have to take a look at my life to see why they could possibly be proud of me now.

            When I was born, my parents wanted a boy, they got a girl.  I would take that as a disappointment.  Mom wanted more kids, but she had to have a hysterectomy when she gave birth to me.  I would take that as a disappointment.  I was very shy, I had learning disabilities and did not do well in school.  Another disappointment there.   I had a child out of wedlock, a big no no in a Catholic family.  Out of all of my siblings, I make the least amount of money by at least sixty thousand a year.  One big disappointment after another.  No wonder you never told me you were proud of me, there was nothing to be proud of, or was there????

            When I was born, I was in critical condition. Overcame and survived.  Even though I have learning disabilities I graduated college with out taking special classes and with all A’s and B’s.

Even though I don’t make the kind of money my siblings make, my parents know I am a hard worker and have good work ethics.  I have been able to keep a job and raise a family when each member of the family has one or more issue themselves without loosing my sanity (or have I?).

            I guess there is reason to be proud after all even if I didn’t see it before, I see it now.  Thanks Mom.

One thing I do remember from the time I was little till now was that my parents always told me that they loved me.

Make sure you tell your kids you love them every day and your parents too.  They will remember it.

Oh, you can also add that you are proud of them.