Mom Still Thinks I'm Perfect

My husband and I are on a diet. While we're not obese by any standards, we both want to shed a few unwanted pounds. I'm still in the beginning stages and not really convinced I want to give up the sweets that keep my disposition even. There is something about chocolate, in particular, that calls to me. I can be totally involved in a television show when suddenly I have to have chocolate. If no chocolate is available, then anything that is sweet has to substitute until the chocolate craving disappears.

When I first arrived at mom's room today, the cleaning lady was there as well as the regular aide, Donna, and a new aide, Marie. Trying to "make nice," I offered them all a chocolate from the box I had brought for mom the week before. They all declined. I pushed and pushed until Shellie, the cleaner, finally acquiesced and had "just one."

I sat with mom while she ate her dinner, and then her cake with coconut cream icing. It never occurred to me to stab some of her food for a quick bite. Well, I guess it occured to me as I was starving, but I thought better of it as the piece of cake was pretty small and mom loves dessert. I just couldn't take food away from her. Especially since she is thin, I'm on a diet, and it just isn't right to take food from your helpless mother...no matter how hungry you are.

I remembered the box of chocolates in her room. I asked mom if she would like a nice piece of dark chocolate candy. "I sure would," she said. "Where did they come from?" I told her I had brought them a week ago. "Well," she said, "we should hurry up and dig into those!" I told her, "No, I'm on a diet. You go ahead and have a piece but I can't have any. I'll just smell them."

She said, "You don't need to diet. You look wonderful to me and should have some chocolate." That was all I needed to hear before diving into the box.

Our parents, and especially our mothers, can put us at an emotional crossroads. We need to feel grown up and independent (no matter how old we are) and yet we need to feel their approval. A mother has a need to guide, teach, and sometimes offer "constructive" criticism. This can be difficult to accept. However, at other times, a mother offers that unconditional love and acceptance that no one else can give. A mother's love will allow you to eat that chocolate, and still feel good about yourself. I'll always be grateful for my mother's love.