Bingeing With Maura
“That’s 2 hours of my life I’ll never get back.”
Who among us hasn’t uttered those words during a particularly unfulfilling episode of “The Bachelor?”
For me, it’s the opposite.
Bingeing with my favorite youngest…
That’s the time I get to spend watching those drawn-out episodes with my “favorite youngest daughter,” Maura.
We’ve been couch buddies going way back when It all started with Disney’s “Hannah Montana.” My daughter Maura was obsessed! At first, it was a great half hour for her to relax with her sister while I got dinner started or made a phone call. As the years went on, I would join her on the couch to watch not only this show but “iCarly”, “Good Luck Charlie” & various others.
I felt a sense of closeness and connection with my daughter that transcended words.
Together, we laughed, we cried, and sometimes even sang along to the catchy tunes. This sparked a tradition that would come to mean the world to both of us. Looking back, I feel an overwhelming sense of gratitude for the gift of motherhood and the privilege of watching my daughter blossom into the remarkable person she was meant to be.
In piggybacking onto my previous article about the avid concert-going experiences with my oldest daughter, I did go to see Hannah Montana/Miley Cyrus in concert, back in her heyday! She killed it back then, and Miley Cyrus is killing it now with her latest Grammy win. In fact, my family is hoping she tours with her latest album!
READ HERE: My Favorite Concert Buddy
Throughout her high school and college years, Maura thrived. Regardless of how busy her extracurricular and social calendars were, she would always invite me back to the couch for “a show” as we affectionately call it even to this day.
These moments were a source of comfort and reassurance, for both of us. In a world filled with uncertainty and change, the familiar routine of watching our favorite TV show together provided a sense of stability and connection.
It was a reminder that no matter what challenges we faced; we would always be there for each other. It brought back memories of my mom, and I curled up on the couch (there weren’t as many sectionals and great rooms back in the day) to watch “Knots Landing.”
Maura has moved out on her own and like Miley, she is killing it in her adult transition. As the years have passed and our lives have become busier, our weekly TV nights are even more precious to me (even though we sometimes must pause “The Bachelor” in our separate locations and FaceTime during the breaks.)
She does come home to “touch the stone” as we say to each other. After greeting our dog Mia (I will write about her too), Maura immediately gives me a warm hug and says, “wanna watch a show?”
As I mark her progress each time she comes home, I marvel at how polar opposite she is to a “Bachelor” contestant. Her only competition is her last best day, she alters her passions and personality for no one, and has a clear sense of herself that is not dependent on another person. Where did this poise and confidence come from?
Regardless of who “The Bachelor” selects in any given season, Maura always gets “the rose” of my heart!