You know those pairs of mothers and daughters who look so much alike they could be sisters? They are an unusual occurrence, but a wonderful one. We are a lot more used to seeing conflicting relationships between women, and even more so between mothers and daughters, almost as if they were expected to compete and constantly tug at opposite sides of a rope. Which is why it is all the more beautiful when you get to meet mothers and daughters who have a healthy relationship.
The truth is, all mother-daughter bonds should be healthy. All people are different, which is why no relationship is identical to another, but there are three things that should always be there: mutual love, trust, and respect. And yes, they should go both ways. The relationship starts crumbling when one side stops trusting the other. Parents can get paranoid about what their children are doing when they are not around, and children can feel like they can't tell their parents anything. That's why parents should always provide a safe space for their kids to express themselves, and children should always tell their parents the truth about any issue that they're facing.
I've always had a very close relationship with my mom. People say that we're very much alike, and we are. We have the same looks, an identical laugh, a similar voice, and similar tastes. Heck, we even buy the same kind of clothing. I'm still deciding whether I dress too mature for my age or if she dresses too young. I'm betting on the first; I've always been told I look older. I've accepted that fact by now; I'm not replacing my entire wardrobe. Anyway, the point is, we are similar, but we are not the same person. We've found a lovely balance between enjoying our similarities and loving the fact that I'm like a mini her, while also accepting that, on other matters, we are VERY different. And that's the key: loving our similarities without trying to change what makes us unique.
This post is for all mothers and daughters with amazing relationships who love sharing quality time and laughing together!