What kinda mother reminds you that you're the best child in the world but never shows it? What kinda mother wants to know about your life but doesn't want to accept it? What kinda mother believes a bunch of strangers hosting "The 10 O'clock News" and a scribble of words on a newspaper but never believes you? What kinda mother let's you pick up the phone but invades your privacy? What kinda mother tells you you're getting fat? What kinda mother tells you each year that you're going to the Philippines and each time, let's you down. What kinda mother wants the best for you but doesn't offer the best?

   My mother does. I'm not saying that such an infallible mother exists, it's just that...sheesh...when it comes to my parents, everything I do is wrong or "can be done better". I feel like their standards for me are we too harsh for someone they hardly know. Yes I said, "someone they hardly know." My parents don't really know me or take the time to know me. They can't even relate to me or understand anything I'm going through. Everything I do, they must reply, "Why can't you be more like your sisters and brothers...?" or "You know your sisters never did that." That's because HELLO! I'm not Lisa, Larry, Lora, Leslie, Lester, Leonard or Michael...wake up, it's Michelle! It's always no, no, no when it should be yeah, yeah, yeah, like Destiny's Child. (Lil' hip-hop/r&b humor). Yes I do gymnastics and commit my time after-school. Yes I do try to be active and join clubs and try to be a leader. Yes I do go to cotillions and parties. Yes I do do performances because like every other teenager, I am sociable, enjoy doing certain activities, and dammit, want some attention! But unfortunatly, I don't get that from my parents. Cuz ya know why? I'm not like their other "perfect" children. Sometimes it gives me more reason not to be like my other siblings just so I can prove to them otherwise. But that would just be stupid considering my siblings are pretty successful and happy. And that's what life's about, being happy, not proving to my parents. And you can say this is a bit weird comin from me because I've never exploited my opinions towards my parents. I don't ever plan to either because whatever I say to my parents just comes out the other ear. They hear, but don't listen. Then the repetitive lecture comes again...over and over and over... (My 10,000 other siblings should know what I'm talkin about). And you other people can probably relate to that too.

          The person who gave birth to me, the person who picked out my boogers, the person who smelled my stinky poo-poo, the person that farts in front of my face, the very same person who watched me grow up for the past seventeen years, and yet, a stranger to my eyes. I'm not sure what the definition of a "perfect mom" is. Maybe my mom is "perfect" and I'm just too blind to see. I guess you can't get everything you want in life."