Hey everyone, meet my mom 🙂 This is Glynis, better known as Glynny, to everyone who knows her 🙂
My mom and I have had a complicated relationship. Growing up, questioning and discovering who I am in my sexuality was difficult because of societal pressures and how I thought my family would react. When I eventually decided to come out, it was a struggle with some friends, but even more so with my mom. There were fights, there was anger and resentment and there were moments of silence that spanned over days, weeks and months. Up until last year, my sexuality was an issue that was always pushed aside and even though I wanted to place more focus on it, it was a struggle. As angry as I was with her, I now see that in her own way, because of the information she was exposed to growing up, she was trying to protect me and look out for me.
There came a day that I decided to sit down with her and have an adult conversation with her and air out my honest thoughts around our relationship, where we stand, and where I'd like us to go. I spoke, she listened with intent, and when I finished, she opened up to me and said "Shaun, I accept you for who you are. You are an adult and are responsible for your won decisions. I love you and I want you to be happy."
It was then where I saw our relationship change for the better. Since then, our communication improved. Even during lockdown, I went through a really tough emotional time, having to figure out which aspects of my life needed priority. I was trying to do everything at the same time, and ended up achieving nothing. I phoned her, and shared my burden with her, and as I spoke to her, I felt knots in my throat and burst out crying. I saw myself looking to my mom for that motherly love, and she gave it to me. She said to me, "Shaun, i wish I could be there for you." We both cried, and shared such a beautiful moment together.
Even through my transition to veganism, my mom was and is quite apprehensive to my way of life. But she is open to experiencing new things. So much so that on my birthday this year, she and I shared a meal at Lekker Vegan. Shame, you know some mothers are quite set in their ways and she resisted a bit, because she wanted to eat something she was familiar with. But, she eventually opened to it. We shared their lunch special - Burger and Chips for R50. She was surprised at the meat-alternative texture and loved the meal overall!
Happy belated Mother's Day Momzie. I hope you had a beautiful day yesterday. I can't wait to see you soon when all of this is over, we can gooi to Lekker Vegan for that special again 🙂
Mini Burger Meal
