Just Like My Mom

I'd like to be like my mom (the incomplete list):

• because she stood up and said racism isn't funny;
• because she is practical and efficient;
• because she never really blinked about having a lesbian for a daughter and has always been my (and our) biggest supporter (not easy considering the conservative, homophobic, did I say racist? tendencies of many of her fellow Texans);
• because she has a curious and questioning mind and is a lifelong learner;
• because she loves to read (and there was no limit on books when I was growing up!);
• because she loves to travel;
• because she cares about making a difference, for example with volunteer work with abused women and the education of girls;
• because she is a feminist and raised us to do or be anything;
• because she's not obsessed with shopping or fashion or style or decorating;
• because she's a great cook;
• because she took me to Broadway musicals and historic houses a lot when I was little;
• because she took me out of school on the opening day of Return of the Jedi;
• because she never once said she was disappointed in me;
• because all my friends like her (especially my lesbian friend in high school, who needed a caring adult); 
• because she protected and promoted the fun and innocence of childhood (and still does);
• because she's trying to keep track of Star Wars and Harry Potter for her grandkids;
• because she'll try almost anything once;
• because grades were never a big deal to her, even if she was proud;
• because she's a great listener;
• because she "fights fair" and uses "I-messages" and "active listening";
• because she dropped everything, more than once, to take care of us;
• because she can drive a boat and fix a toilet and mow a lawn, which none of the other moms did;
• because she's not embarrassed to cry;
• because she's open-minded and accepting;
• because when I was a new mom (and even still) she followed our rules, even when she thought they were silly (though she never said so!);
• because her sex talk to me was fantastic (who else's mom told them that masturbation was okay??);
• because she really does forgive and forget; 
• because she's (usually) pretty relaxed;
• because she can appreciate "the nicest time of the day";
• because she has "creative" hearing;
• because her jokes are most funny when she gets them mixed up;
• because she can laugh at herself;
• because she's a great person and I'm lucky she's my mom!