Personal Narrative: How My Mom Changed My Life

My mom has multiple sclerosis. Having been diagnosed with the disease almost eighteen years ago, my mother has never been healthy in the time that I can remember her. Because of this, I have been accustomed to a different childhood than a majority of my friends. There were a lot of things that I didn’t do with my mom as a child that many other families do. We did a lot of traveling when we were younger, but we stopped taking trips after I was seven years old. Although my aunt and uncle always stepped in to take us on camping trips or to go hiking or skiing, every time we went I missed my mom and I wished that she were there with me. My mom always felt really tired when she came home after a long days work, so she never planned big, elaborate birthday parties or family events. She didn’t attend my junior high commencement because she couldn’t walk through the venue or stand for too long. Despite my mom’s fatigue and inabilities, I had an amazing childhood. Even though I may not have had similar experiences to my friends, my mom and I created unique traditions that I can’t wait to pass down to my own children someday. We started doing scrabble tournaments when I was eight because my mom has always had an affinity for words. To this day, we still clear time once a week for her to cream me in that intense crossword game. On top
It’s just as special for me to come home and show her the hundreds of pictures I took of every inch of every building and room and gush about the classes or the people or the scenery or the professors. Even though I didn’t have the same kind of childhood as my friends, I don’t think I’ve missed out on anything. Instead, I think that my unique circumstances have only allowed me to grow into a kinder and more patient person than I ever thought