13 Things I Need To Tell My Mom More Often

It can be easy to forget to pick up the phone. Here are 13 things I definitely need to tell my mom more often, and I think you should, too.

Sometimes it is easy to get wrapped up in your college life, and you can forget to stop and pick up the phone to call your mom. Here are 13 things I definitely need to tell my mom more often, and I think you should, too.

1. Hello!

As low-commitment as it may sound, I often forget to just give my mom a call and say hi every couple of days. I have billion things to stress about at college, and she has those 40 or so hours when she hasn’t heard from me to think and worry. Not only does she love to hear my voice and hear about my classes, but when life is going a mile a minute I find myself forgetting to breathe for a second and the mere familiarity of my biggest fan’s voice definitely serves as a gentle reminder that I’m doing alright.

2. I agree with you.

My mom and I are different people and we have very divergent opinions. When I don’t mention our common ground, I miss the opportunity to connect with her on that.

3. I’m sorry.

Mother/teenager relationships are tumultuous at best, and it’s so easy for me to blame my mom and think of all the ways I wish she would treat me. I definitely fall short when it comes to accepting blame for the wrong things I have said or done that have hurt or invalidated her feelings; and making up after a fight is a whole lot easier when we start it off with an apology.

4. That hurt my feeling/that wasn’t okay.

Just like apologizing, relationships in general go much more smoothly when you address the fact that you got hurt by the other person or expect to be treated differently. Too often do I let it decompose inside me and end up fueling little resentment plants that pop up in future interactions with my mom. Especially now that I’m busy at school, I need to be extra careful not to sully the more limited time I get to spend with her with, albeit negative, yet super resolvable emotions needing to be spilled.

5. I’m doing okay!

By the time my mom sends me that “How are you doing?” text, I would bet she has already been stressing about my wellbeing for at least a little time. For sure, I should remember to check in and dispel her fears a little more often.

6. I’m not doing okay…

Also, I’m way too guilty of thinking I can do things on my own and holding in my problems from the one person who has basically a 100% effectiveness record with advice.

7. I appreciate everything you have done for me.

College is hard. Life is hard. They would be extra hard if my mom hadn’t prepared me and given me every opportunity. I should make sure and remind her of that.

8. I got an A on my test!

Worked my tail off in the library last night and it paid off? Who better to celebrate it with me than my biggest fan?

9. I hope everything is going well for you.

What did numbers 1-8 have in common? They were all about me! My feelings, emotions, accomplishments, etc. I would hate to miss big news – or even little news – about her life and all I really have to do to make sure that doesn’t happen is ask!

10. You were right.

About that boy I told about from Econ class, about how that orange romper was a totally unflattering color on me, about literally everything. I’ll try to listen better.

11. I’m trying my hardest.

Little league tryouts, school, drama club, and everything in between; she always told me to try my hardest and it wouldn’t hurt to let her know that I am.

12. I still don’t agree with you.

No, I’m not being contrarian and I don’t want to fight, and I absolutely don’t love or respect you any less – but I’m growing into the woman you helped me become and I realized that I was right about some things too. This is what I believe and this is what I’ll stand up for and I hope it makes you proud to see me do this.

13. I love you.

As simple as that. Everyday.