Today is my mom’s birthday.
Lately, I’ve been reflecting on how over the years our relationship has shifted and changed. With age, we’ve become more than just mother and daughter- we’ve become friends!
As I caught myself willingly watching not one, but two, Lifetime Christmas movies on TV on Sunday night, I realized that as I grow up, I’m becoming (scarily…but in a good way) more and more like my mother, in ways both silly and serious.
In honor of her special day, here are just 10 of the many ways I’m becoming my mom:
1. We look alike. No, seriously. We look exactly alike. There have been multiple times I’ve walked into a room without my mom and had several people immediately say, “Oh, you’re Sue’s daughter! Obviously…you look just like her” and the same thing has happened to her on many different occasions. I didn’t always see it, but take a look at this photo of my mom…I’m pretty much a spitting image.
2. We’re both completely OCD about making purchases. Case in point: I went to four different drug stores to find the perfect birthday card for my mom. When I finally found a card I liked at the fourth store, I obsessively inspected every envelope to make sure the one I selected didn’t have any fingerprints or creases. Where did I learn this? Mom, of course. As a child, I remember watching my mom carefully inspect book after book at Barnes and Noble before making a purchase to make sure we found one that was untouched, uncreased and perfectly crisp before bringing it home.
3. We love a good deal. My mom is the coupon queen. Letting her know I’m planning a shopping trip is a cause to pull out her big envelope of coupons to sift through…”Are you going to Old Navy? Limited? NY & Company? Here…take these coupons.” I used to laugh at her, but guess what? Now I have my own envelope of coupons. And after I get a good deal at a store, you can bet I’m immediately whipping out my phone to call my mom.
4. We’re planners. I got my knack for creating a killer to-do list from my mom. This lady is a serious planner. Going on vacation? Her suitcase is perfectly packed at least a week ahead of time. Cooking Thanksgiving dinner? She has a full-on note with each dish, time it needs to go in the oven and other pertinent details. This is one of my favorite traits that I inherited from my mom and has definitely
served me well in both college and my career, so far.
5. We’re obsessed with the beach. Stick us both on the beach with sunglasses, a good book and a cooler full of those delicious frozen cocktail pouches, and we’re good to go. Ocean City, NJ is our favorite close-to-home shore point, but put us on a plane to Jamaica? Now, we’re really good to go.
6. We have the same sense of style…sometimes. Want to know how I knew I was really becoming like my mother? Last fall, we bought the same shirt from Target. Color me shocked that we actually selected the same item of clothing after years of disagreeing on the outfits I selected. Now, she’s one of my favorite people to shop with because she has an eye for picking out items that I would never in a million years try on my own, but that end up looking awesome on. I guess mom’s really do know best, right?
7. We religiously watch certain TV shows. The arrival of the fall TV preview issue of TV Guide is cause for a celebration in the Lawlor household. That’s because us Lawlor women LOVE TV: reality TV, dramas, comedy, Christmas movies…My mom’s DVR is almost always teetering near 100 percent full. And I’m definitely not far behind her, although most of my TV-watching happens on Hulu.
8. We both love fruity drinks. Who turned me on to malibu bay breezes, margaritas, mojitos and other delicious drinks starting with the letter M and otherwise? Mom (when I was OVER 21 of course…) We both love finding new cocktail recipes on Pinterest and creating new concoctions for parties and family gatherings.
9. We both must have “Talk to me” stickers on our foreheads. My dad always jokes that my mom must have a “Talk to me” sticker on her forehead because no matter where she goes, people always talk to her. In line at the grocery store, at a baseball game, at the nail salon…My mom makes at least three new friends everywhere she goes, whether she wants to or not. Lately, I’ve been feeling the same way as I get chatted up while on-the-go even when I’m completely minding my own business.
10. Thanks to my mom, I think I’m going to make a pretty awesome mom one day. I’m already doing a pretty decent job playing mom to my little brother and sister (although I’m sure they’d argue that I’m just being annoyingly overprotective! But I love them and want them to be safe and successful!). Although my mom wishes I had a child of my own right now (Sorry mom! No grandbaby for your birthday this year!), I know that when I do, I’m going to be able to pass on all the fun and serious life lessons my mom has taught me, and continues to teach me, each and every day.
I love you mom-hope you have a wonderful birthday!
Do you find yourself becoming more and more like one of your parents as you get older? Share your stories in the comments below!
Jess, what a great piece and such a wonderful tribute to your Mom. Luv, Gmom
Thank you so much, mom mom! Love you!
Such a great post!
Thank you, Carly! 🙂
My mom and I have been dressing similarly for a while now, but it all came to a head a couple years ago. I had picked out a gorgeous black cocktail dress to wear for my senior gala in college, and because I was so far away, my mom never saw it. A year later, we’re on the phone and she’s describing the dress she just bought for a charity benefit and it sounds strangely familiar. Sure enough, SAME DRESS. I died.
Happy birthday to your mom!
I can’t believe I’m just replying to this comment now because this story made me laugh so hard when the comment was emailed to me a few weeks ago. You and your mom both must have impeccable taste 🙂 xoxox
Such a good post and my mom and I can certainly relate to #3 about coupons! We’d both rather brag about getting a good deal than spending a fortune on something haha Happy birthday to your mom!
Haha, LOVE me some coupons! Thanks so much for commenting, Kara!
What a heart-warming post Jess! As I sit here holding my little one I’m getting a little teary-eyed reading it (especially #10). Your mom is lucky to have such a sweet and articulate daughter!
Heather, I’ve been meaning to reply to this comment for weeks now and am just getting to it. Seeing this comment from you absolutely made my day…especially coming from a new mama like yourself. I’d love to come visit you and Hannah soon! Are there any good evenings or weekend days coming up that work well for you for a visit? xoxox
What a great post! I loved reading this Jess. I think one of the best compliments people ever give me is “You’re just like your mom.”
Thank you, Niki! And how true is that statement?! I’m so proud to be like my mom.
As I sit here laughing & crying, I realize at least I did a good job so far with one of my children! If your sister & brother turn out anything like you, I will be one lucky Mom!! I love you very much and look forward to raising my grandchildren ( not granddaughter) just like I did you! One thing I forgot to teach you though is STOP buying expensive cards from the drugstore! Go to the dollar store!
Jess,
Your post made this parent smile, but it also made my cry seeing your Mom’s response. A note to Mrs. Lawlor, you have an incredibly bright and terrific daughter (I probably don’t have to tell you that). I consider myself lucky to call her a colleague and friend. And it’s quite obvious she is going to make a great parent.
Cheers!
Just getting to this comment now (sorry for the delay!)…thank you so much for the kind words. I’m glad my post resonated with you as a parent. Happy New Year! 🙂
My was my always really crafty, which I never thought of myself as. But somehow I was able to channel that for our wedding. I still don’t think of myself as crafty, but at least I know I can pull it off.
And I guess for my point of view, just treasure the time you have with your mom and don’t take it for granted. Because unfortunately you really never know what could happen.
That’s awesome! I am so not crafty.
Definitely am appreciating the time I have with her! <3
What a sweet and adorable post — and I share so many of your thoughts about my own mom! Though Mom and I don’t look anything alike (and holy cow, you and your mom ARE twins), our personalities are very similar — and we react in exactly the same ways to most situations. It’s funny. And we’re both classic overthinkers! But that comes in handy sometimes.
Thanks so much, Meg! Haha, my mom and I definitely are twins- it’s very strange, but cool. My mom and I are also both classic overthinkers…definitely something I need to work on in the new year 🙂
Cute post! My mom and I always have our DVR teetering on 100% too. I’ve never known anyone as obsessed with TV as my mom!!! lol
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