Becoming a mother is a sure-fire way to turn into your own mum. Maybe it’s growing older, or growing into your new role as a mother, but your own mum becomes evident in the phrases you say, your parenting instincts – and maybe even the way you dress. There’s a growing realisation that you and your mother are more like peas in a pod than you could ever have imagined. They do say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery…
Here are six moments I realised I’m turning into my mum.
1. I look specifically for clothes, accessories and anything else i can get in my mum’s favourite colour, red. Sometimes we even wear the same clothes…
2. When I (rarely) shout at my two-nager I have flashbacks to being on the receiving end of the same telling-off
3. I run myself ragged doing things non-stop, as there is always something to do. And then shout at my hubby that he doesn’t do enough (but secretly admit I prefer to do it myself)
4. Tiger mum alert: even at two years I want my toddler to be top of the class. I’ve been reading up on the early years framework. There must be something wrong here….
5. I look at photos of myself and am looking more and more like my mum, even down to my greying hair.
6. My work is such a big part of my identity. I love family time, but I equally love work and spending time with my friends. It’s a struggle then and now to live this out without negative effects. I realise that we cannot give everything 100% all the time. I want to be a strong role model for my son and show him that it is possible to have a fulfilling work-life-family balance (just about).
None of this is bad – in fact, this is a good thing. In the same way, our children are like little mirrors for us, motherhood has opened my eyes to how my mum and I are in fact very similar, and have many of the same characteristics, good and bad. I can also appreciate traits from other relatives appearing at different points too. Now I can see them starting to come out in my two year old as well which is magical.
Keeping the negative characteristics under control is the important thing. Having a partner who grounds me when I get a bit obsessed with something is the only way for me.
As long as my toddler doesn’t inherit my impatience… oh wait….