If I could sit down with my teenage self for just five minutes, I think I’d start with this:
Mom is going to be right about 99.99% of the time.
And I know… teenage me would probably roll her eyes so hard at that. I would’ve thought, “She doesn’t get it. She doesn’t understand me. Things are different now.”
But looking back… she did get it. More than I ever gave her credit for.
Back When I Thought I Knew Everything
When I was younger, I was so sure I had life figured out. I thought being “grown” meant making my own choices without anyone’s input. It meant staying up too late, trusting the wrong people, and learning lessons the hard way.
Anytime my mom warned me about something, I’d secretly think she was being dramatic.
“Don’t trust them.”
“Be careful with your heart.”
“Think before you decide.”
“Slow down.”
At the time, it felt like she was holding me back.
Now I know she was trying to protect me.
The Lessons I Learned Too Late
There were friendships she questioned that ended in heartbreak.
There were situations she warned me about that turned into stress.
There were choices she discouraged that I later regretted.
And every time something fell apart, I’d think…
She tried to tell me.
She wasn’t trying to control my life. She was trying to save me from unnecessary pain.
She saw things I couldn’t yet see.
Love Looks Like Guidance
One thing I wish my teenage self understood is that love doesn’t always look like “yes.”
Sometimes love looks like:
- Setting boundaries
- Asking hard questions
- Saying “no” when you want to say “yes.”
- Worrying even when it seems unnecessary
My mom loved me enough to speak up, even when I didn’t want to listen.
That takes courage!
What I’d Tell Young Samantha Now
If I could go back, I’d tell her:
Listen more.
Trust your mother’s wisdom.
Ask questions.
Be patient.
Don’t rush growing up.
You don’t have to have everything figured out yet.
You’re allowed to learn slowly.
You’re allowed to lean on the people who love you.
And most importantly…
You don’t always have to be right.
Grateful for My Mother, Always!
Now that I’m older, I see her advice differently. I hear her voice in my own decisions. I find myself repeating things she once told me.
And sometimes, I laugh and think…
Wow. She really was right.
About almost everything.
I’m so lucky to have a mother whose love, guidance, and faith shaped me into the person I am today!
If you’re reading this and you’re still in that stage of life where you think your parents “just don’t get it,” trust me… they probably understand more than you realize.
And if you’re like me, looking back with a grateful heart, maybe this is your reminder to tell them thank you today!
Because that love?
That guidance?
That patience?
It’s priceless. 💛
Thank you, Mom!
