It takes decades to love parents!

January 20, 2009  

Latest research has discovered that kids only appreciate their parents when they reach the age of 22! Apparently we’re just a pain in the a*** up until that point!

You know why they appreciate us at age 22? Because they’re thinking of moving out or they’ve gone off to university and they no longer have anyone to wash, iron and cook for them.

I’m speaking from experience - when I went off to University I was a cocky little so-and-so who thought she knew everything.

However, I was the first one in my student accommodation to start crying and talking about being homesick. I was devastated - I couldn’t cook - not even pasta - I still took my washing home at weekends and I used to beg to stay at home.

I even called my Mum from Nottingham train station once and told her I was coming back to join the police! How 20th century that was - my ancestors would’ve ran off to join the circus. I’ve always been a good girl.

My Mum gave me a good talking to - I thought she was cruel and horrble but I stayed and I’m really glad that I did.

I got my degree but not only that I met a best friend for life and I learnt so many life-skills. I can cook pasta perfectly now and I appreciate the warmth of my house.

Back in Nottingham I had to go to bed in pyjamas, socks and dressing gown I was so cold and we used to rush home from studies and sit on the sofa with duvets overs us to keep warm - it was horrendous but character building!

Anyway, back to this research and I don’t think we appreciate our parents at 22, I think it’s when we finally have our own children.

Since the daughter has come along I realise that my Mum was the one who paced the floor with me in the early hours, she was the one who nursed me better, who made me fish fingers and beans when I was recuperating and the one who got two jobs to send me extra money when I was in college.

When I thought my parents were selfish because I couldn’t take friends with us to the zoo or theme park - I now know it was because it was expensive enough for us to go as a family.

I appreciate all of that now and I realise how hard it must’ve been to raise two children, hold down a job and have a husband who worked shifts.

So I don’t have to wait for my little one to reach the age of 22 to appreciate me - I think it’ll be a lot longer and by that point I will have turned into MY mother.

I’ll be heard saying “Kids today”, “Bored, I wish I had time to be bored” and “I can see round corners and through walls”.

What goes around comes around - it really is the circle of life!

• Mum finds dirty dancing
• Christmas panic
• Saddest day so far!
• Hen party for Mum
• Goodwill to all men BAH Scrooge!