All the things your mother secretly was right about
My mother and I have always had a good relationship. If I am to believe her, I even passed my teenage years with flying colors, as there were never any real teenage outbursts. We had a kind of mutual understanding, she let me do my thing and I respected the boundaries she set. Not that they were shocking, mind you, it was at most about a time I had to be home or that we didn't argue in our house and always spoke normally to each other. So our relationship was nice and always based on equality, but still, there were a few things that repeatedly elicited a bored ‘yeahhhh’ from me. How could it be otherwise? You remain a teenager and you need something to push against. I really knew it all, I thought. And even if my mother secretly was right, I would of course never admit that. Now, years later, I look back on that time with a big smile and realize that she was always, and I mean always right. I even dare to admit it now. Hold on mom, because with your next points, you actually had a point in hindsight.
1. Put on a jacket
Yes, a jacket was really not cool. Especially one that was warm enough to withstand the bitter cold of a winter evening in 2008. Everyone had to see how I combined my Diesel jeans with three shirts layered over each other and my wedge heels, and more than a leather jacket I really wasn't going to wear. I never admitted that I stood in line at the hottest clubs of the moment, suffering from the cold for hours.
2. Always ride your bike with your light on
If there was anything that could make my eyes roll out of their sockets, it was this remark. I felt like such a loser when I had to carry those loose bike lights that never fit in my mini bags because there was already an iPod Touch and a Motorola Razr in the way of my new Sony camera. I always did it obediently, and now that I drive myself, I see how dangerous it is to ride without lights. So take this advice from a not-mother, but now a sensible lady: always ride your bike with your light on, kiddos!
3. That one boyfriend she couldn't stand
I had an idiot of a boyfriend at 19. Really, if there was someone who enjoyed pressing all the buttons he knew would make you sad, it was him. I cried more during that whole relationship than I laughed, but I was still convinced that love was supposed to be like that. High peaks, deep valleys. That my mother would have preferred to give him a smack on the head every time he came over, she only told me years later. I hope for him that he never runs into us together, because then he gets two. Oh, how right she was about that.
4. Start your schoolwork on time
My mother never interfered with my planning, that was my own responsibility. She helped me with everything I had to do, that for sure. But whether I started on time, that was up to me. Still, I remember comments like: start a little earlier next time, that takes away so much stress for you (and probably also for her). I thought that was exaggerated, it was going just fine, right? Spoiler alert: it was fine, but the fact that my mother didn't have a stroke from my talent for waiting until the last moment for everything is truly a miracle. By the way, I still do this, and it still goes fine, but man oh man, how I would love to be a more organized person.
5. Save your money
Another thing she really didn't interfere with, not even when I still lived at home at the time I started working full-time and there was almost daily a package from Asos on the mat, but still something she tried to convey to me: save your money while you can. There is no advice I have ignored faster, and how I regret that. I moved out seven years ago with not a red cent to my name, and although I always managed, I had no buffer for when something unexpectedly broke in the house. Now, seven years later, I finally have my finances a bit in order, but my savings are still not something to write home about. It's the biggest Carrie Bradshaw thing I've ever done: all my money is hanging in my closet in the form of clothes that I will never fit into again. What a waste.
