Admit it, mums, some time after giving birth to your first child, you became a lot closer to your mother. Maybe it was because you could finally empathise with her; perhaps it was because you’d grown wiser and had grown more appreciative of her as a parent; or maybe it was because she was willing to take your kids off your hands for a few hours every now and then.
Either way, you and your mum have grown closer than ever. In fact, you might even go as far to say that she’s your best friend.
So long teenage angst, and yearnings for freedom and independence! Hello to hour long phone calls with mum to talk about the ins and outs of parenting. Funny how things change, isn’t it?
You’re probably thinking, “Yes, my mum and I are close but…best friends? That’s a bit of an exaggeration.”
I beg to differ. In fact, I can prove it!
Through these signs and tells, you’ll be able to determine if your mum is just your mother or if she’s actually your BFF as well:
You value her opinions and guidance
Now that you’re a mum, the only opinions that really matter are those of other mums. Above all, the opinion that matters most is your mum’s opinion. That’s why you may find your self seeking out her stance or outlook on a number of situations.
Your mum is always willing to opine and give input no matter what the circumstance. And like any best friend should, you value her opinion and take her advice.
You call your mum a lot more often
Everyone makes the occasional phone call to their parents. It’s natural. When your mum is your best friend, however, that number of phone calls grow exponentially.
As I noted earlier, you may find yourself on the phone with Mum for hours at a time. Whether you’re calling to check if your baby’s cough should sound like that, or asking what kind of lotions will help get rid of that diaper rash, you’ll notice that you’ve never spent this much time on the phone with anyone. Except maybe…your best friend!
You speak truthfully and honestly to each other
If you can’t speak the absolute truth with the person to whom you’re speaking, then you’re probably not that close with them. That’s why it’s sacred when you’ve achieved a level of comfort, trust, and honesty with someone. You can finally speak truthfully and do it in a way that makes you feel safe and comforted when you need it, but also hear the harsh realities when you need it.
If you’ve reached that sacred level of comfort, trust, and honesty with your mother, she very well might be your best friend. Only best friends share the absolute truth with each other, and only best friends can be brutally honest with each other.
You enjoy spending time together
Back to that teenage angst I addressed earlier. Think back to your younger days when running errands with Mum was social suicide. You couldn’t be seen in a restaurant, grocery store, or movie with her without feeling like a dork, a nerd, or whatever insult high schoolers use today.
Nowadays—since becoming best friends with your mum—you might notice that you don’t care what other people think when your spending quality time with your mum. In fact, you’re probably having a great time running errands with Mum! If that’s the case, it’s probably because your mum and your best friend are one and the same.
You’re becoming more and more like her
Just like when you were inseparable from your high school BFF and the two of you walked, talked and acted the same way, you’ve probably noticed the same thing happening with you and your mum.
In the past, when someone said, “You sound like your mother”, you probably reacted unfavorably or shrieked in fear. Since Mum became your bestie…it doesn’t sound all too bad.
After all, she’s a mum also, so it’s only natural that you’d act similarly to her.
Can you relate to any or all of these signs? If so, it’s time to appreciate Mum for being more than a parent because she’s also your best friend!
READ: Find out the secret to becoming a “supermum”
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