Mom?

Did I Just Sound Like My Mom? ... I Bet Annie the Porcupine Knows the Feeling.

Have you ever said something and immediately thought, Oh my gosh... that sounded just like my mom? Maybe it was the way you told someone to "get their shoes on before you miss the bus," or how you sighed dramatically while cleaning up after everyone for the third time that day. It sneaks up on you, those phrases, the tone, even the way you raise your eyebrow. Suddenly, you hear her voice... and realize it's now yours, too.

I can't help but wonder if Annie the Porcupine ever feels that way.

Annie's mom is loving, patient, and always has the best stories, told in all the voices, of course. She teaches Annie how to cook, how to be kind, and probably how to say, "I said bedtime!" with just the right mix of firmness and love. 

I imagine Annie rolling her eyes when her mom repeats a familiar lesson... only to later repeat it herself to a friend.

And then she catches herself. "Oh no," she groans, "I sound just like my mom!"

But here's the thing: sounding like your mom isn't a bad thing. It usually means you're channeling someone who taught you how to love, lead, and laugh, even when you didn't want to. 

So, whether you're a grown-up chuckling at your own "mom-isms" or a kid just starting to pick up those little sayings, remember: it's okay to sound like your mom. Especially if she's anything like Annie's.

I bet Annie would agree... eventually.