What does my sons dorm room say about me?

My husband and I recently attended parent weekend at our sons college.  I went back a few days later to bring my son home to recover from bronchitis and an ear infection.   A nice big pot of Virus Killing soup  was on the menu! 

I digress...let's get back to parent weekend:  While we were there for Parent Weekend I overheard one Mom mildly scolding her kid with something akin to "Your room embarrasses me."  It occurred to me that   I just don't see my sons room as  a reflection on me and my mothering  (because it isn't). 

Maybe it's not entirely true that I don't feel it reflects on me but I'm pretty sure that I am not at all affronted by the condition of my sons dorm room.   It's a wretched sight to behold, for sure.   It makes me itch to go in there.   It just doesn't embarrass me or cause me to fidget over what others must be thinking about me.  If someone wants to think ill of my mothering  I'm perfectly comfortable with it.    The proof of my mothering is in the relationship I have with this wonderful young man.   He usually communicates with his Dad and I on a weekly (sometimes daily, if things are stressing him out) basis.   I am confident that we've made  mistakes with him yet our relationship is based on kindness and respect and love  and not on how well he performs or what he does right.

I am not saying any of  this in an effort to communicate "Oh we're so great.  Be like us!"   I'm striving/hoping to communicate that our kids hearts matter more than their rooms or what folks on the outside think of us or our kids.


Gonna go eat some amazingly tasty leftover Virus Killing soup now.    ttfn!