Now I understand...

Do you remember the countless times that your mom was sooooo proud of you for accomplishing something and you'd say something to the effect of, "Mom, it really wasn't that great," or think, "Mom, I'm your kid. You're kinda obligated to say that." Maybe it was just me who did that when I was growing up. Sure, I was thankful that my mom was proud of me and my accomplishments, but I never understood why some things were such a BIG deal. And when you would ask your mom she would say, "One day you'll understand." Other times mom would pull out coloring pictures that we had mutilated as a little kid, and she would start crying and we couldn't understand why a piece of art that looked like a rendition of one of Picasso's paintings meant so much to her. And when we would ask she would say, "One day you'll understand." When we were younger the baby pictures would come out from time to time and there we were all red, wrinkly and not so cute just yet and she would smile. While we were thinking, "That is DEFINITELY a face only a mother could love," she would look at us and say, "One day you'll understand." Well, Mom,  you were right all along. Thank you for being sooooo incredibly proud of me for the little things in life, for treasuring my little pieces of art, and most of all for loving me just the way I am, because now I understand...