By Kirsten Wilson
Proverbs 31: 28 (ESV) “Her children rise up and call her blessed…”
I can’t remember the exact day that my mom became my best friend, but one day it just happened.
When I was in Jr. High I didn’t consider my mom a “cool mom” (Sorry Mom!). I was always a little jealous of my friend’s moms who played the “best friend” role instead of the “mom” role. Those moms who would cover for other kids when they cut class, the ones who didn’t give their kids a curfew, the ones who didn’t bat an eyelash if their kid was out all night at a party.
My mom was an overprotective mom. She would call other parents to make sure that they would be home when I was hanging out at a friend’s house and she would look up the movie I wanted to see on Focus on the Family’s Plugged In Online to make sure it was appropriate. Growing up I did not dare think about cutting class and I had a curfew that was strongly enforced. You could say growing up I had a “mom,” not a “best friend” like most of my friends did.
Although I did not understand it then, I understand it now. Many of my friends who had these “best friend moms” live a life very different than the way I do now. Needless to say I am no longer jealous.
At the time I did not see it, but as I got older and as I gained her trust she did ease up on some of her rules. Even though they were no longer necessarily enforced, she trusted me to do the right thing and make the wise choice.
Though I didn’t know it then, my overprotective, sometimes crazy mother was instilling very important life principles in my life that I would not realize until I was an adult. By not cutting class, I learned the importance of school and it prepared me for college. Having supervision at friend’s houses prevented me from getting into trouble. And “making me” to go to church taught me the importance of having a relationship with Christ and willfully choose to go to church each Sunday.
Looking back I am so thankful that growing up I had a “mother” instead of a “best friend.” I’m so thankful for every time she grounded me when I lied or talked back. I’m thankful that she did not allow me to hang out with certain people and that she “forced me” to go to church. I believe it was because of these motherly actions that today we are best friends.
P.S. Mom, I apologize for all gray hairs you may one day accumulate because of my teenage years.
Then
Now
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