The Meanest Mother In the World

Years ago for Mother's Day, I received a plaque from my daughter (actually--I think my mother may have helped her pick it out).  The reason I say this is because I had originally read this article years ago, as a teenager, in an Ann Lander's column and it was one of my favorites.

Today, I must post it in honor of all the "Mean Moms" out there.  I don't know who wrote it so there is no credit to be given--only quotes and kudos for whoever had to suffer a mother like this and be brave enough to write about it.  I hope every 'Mean Mother' out there enjoys a wonderful Mother's Day.

Meanest Mother in the World

I had the meanest Mother in the world.  While other kids had candy for breakfast, I had to eat cereal, eggs and toast.  While other kids had cake and candy for lunch, I had a sandwich.  As you can guess, my dinner was different from other kids' dinners, too.  My mother insisted on knowing where we were at all times.  She had to know who our friends were and what we were doing.

I am ashamed to admit it, but she actually had the nerve to break the child labor law.  She made us work.  We had to wash dishes, make the beds and learn how to cook.  That woman must have stayed awake nights thinking up things for us kids to do.  And she insisted we tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth.

By the time we became teenagers, she was much wiser and our life became more unbearable.  None of this tooting the car horn for us to come running; she embarrassed us to no end by insisting that our friends come to the door to get us.

I forgot to mention that most of our friends were allowed to date at the mature age of 12 or 13, but our old fashioned Mother refused to let us date until we were 15.  She really raised a bunch of squares.  None of us was ever arrested for shoplifting or busted for dope.  And who do we have to thank for this?  You're right, our mean mother.

I am trying to raise my children to stand a little straighter and taller and I am secretly tickled to pieces when my children call me mean.  I thank God for giving me the meanest Mother in the world.  The world needs more mean Mothers like mine.