GUEST BLOG: Two sides to Mom's Weekend
By Dilynn Roettker, Staff Writer
May 20, 2008 | noon
The bars are virtually open for anyone and yet the university hosts a series of activities that must appeal to a different niche than I can relate to...I mean, who would want to go for coffee at the president's house early Sunday morning with a hangover? Coffee is a diuretic. No, that doesn’t mean it gives you diarrhea, but if you are trying to get rid of a persistent hangover, then dehydrating yourself more is probably not the wisest move. While the majority of students probably had a similar itinerary--drinking with mom--I had the opportunity to experience that and the alternative this past weekend. I got to have a nice sober lunch with my biological mother and a wonderful drunken burrito with my other mother.
My best friend's mother doubles as one of my close friends. It’s a complicated yet cute arrangement. My friend tells me things that I’m not allowed to tell his mom, and she tells me things that her kids probably shouldn’t know anyway, but I laugh and promise to keep these to myself. Friday night I had the pleasure of drinking with her, and enjoying the traditions of dancing on bar tables and making ourselves the center of attention for all the frat boys to enjoy. Afterwards we stopped by Big Mammas, my late-night staple, and ended the night with a movie that none of us remember well.
The other side of Mom’s Weekend consists of the mothers who aren’t avid supporters of drunkenness, much like my (biological) mother. A strong Christian, she will get a drink with me, as she is a connoisseur of beer and wine, yet she doesn’t believe in getting drunk. I love my parents, and I tell my mom everything. While that is a hard concept to understand for many of my friends who tend to keep most of their college habits to themselves, it actually works out for me. She is the one who knows me best. She knows my flaws and my strengths. My parents are very proud of what I am today, as am I, and while my mom does not like that I drink a lot--beyond a motherly look and something like a scolding--she keeps her comments to herself. She says that I am an adult and I can make my own decisions, as well as live with the consequences.
We met for lunch in Columbus and spent a few hours talking about everything under the sun. She and my father are both dedicated workaholics (in the best sense of the word), which is a quality they have passed on to at least one of their children. The afternoon was a different kind of fun, and in some aspects I enjoyed it more than Friday night. While my mother and I disagree on a select few things, most of the time talking with her is more helpful than talking with any one friend. So, to all daughters, consider talking to your mothers. If they are willing to listen on the same level as you without threatening punishment but instead offering constructive feedback, then it can be some of the best advice you ever hear. Remember, you did get your habits from somewhere. Why not ask someone who knows you best?
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