Role Reversal

I think everyone anticipates that time in your life when some of the roles between parent and child shift and take on new life.  You realize what paying a bill is like, so you become a provider, you start to teach your parents about new technology and fads, a parent becomes ill and you become care-taker, and sometimes you take on the role of protector when events happen to a parent.

Recently, and without going into crazy detail, someone insulted my Mom and attacked her character as a friend, as a Christian, as a Mom and wife.  This person was considered a "friend", and it made me think...what in all honesty is the definition of a friend?  Who better to answer that than freedictionary.com?

friend  (frnd)n.

1. A person whom one knows, likes, and trusts.

2. A person whom one knows; an acquaintance.

3. A person with whom one is allied in a struggle or cause; a comrade.

4. One who supports, sympathizes with, or patronizes a group, cause, or movement

5. Friend A member of the Society of Friends; a Quaker.

I can safely say that my Mom's so-called "friend" may only fit one of these criteria, and that is that she may possibly be a Quaker.  

I only write this to say that, and since she used the tool of Facebook and the internet to attack her, I am here doing the same in my Mom's defense (and without her knowledge), that no one, NO ONE messes with my Mom, and thinks they can get away with it.

My Mother is the strongest woman I know.  My Mom is the most caring, devoted, loving and selfless woman that I am lucky to be able to look up to as an example and hope to follow in her footsteps.  She puts her family first, and her friends a very close second, if not on the same level.  Always putting herself, and especially her health last, she will drop everything to help.  She will loan money, lend support, or offer advice, (sometimes unsolicited God love her) only with the hope that she is helping.  

And now that I am older, I can confidently say that if you attack my Mom, you also attack me, and if my Mom isn't bad enough...well guess what, than you've got the former Miss Dlouhy on your case now too.  My Dad always jokes that now that I'm a Ferrett I've lost the Dlouhy charm, and that may be.  But the Dlouhy fight is still in me, and I will never back down when it comes to any member of my family or a friend.  (Laurie, it's steel boots time!)

So, please read that definition and look at those people in your life that are lucky enough to have you give them that label.  

Is it real?  

Is it petty?  

Is it worth fighting for?  

Are they a Quaker?  

So, as you put it, "former friend" of my Mom, thank you for inspiring me to really look at who is in my life and appreciate the fact that I have honest and true people who support and love me for who I am.  All of my crazy, all of my belting, all of my Arbonne-ing.

But most of all, thank you for reminding me how wonderful my Mom is, and how lucky I am to be able to call her my friend.  You on the other hand, don't deserve that honour.

Now then, is it just me or does anyone else feel like some Quaker Harvest Crunch?