A mother is someone who takes your temperature when your throat hurts and makes your lunch every day before school. But for me, my mother is so much more than that. We finish each other’s sentences and give the old saying “shop ‘til you drop” a whole new meaning.

So many teenagers are annoyed by their parents. When I hear my friends complain, “I hate my mom!” or “My dad is so unfair!” I always respond with a puzzled look. I’ve never understood why they feel this way.

For my mom and me, it is the exact opposite. Our bond has strengthened over the course of my life, and certain events have brought us closer than anyone could ever imagine.

Sure, the rules they make keep us from driving too late or meeting new people online. But they are only keeping our best interest in mind.  This is their job.

What so many teenagers don’t realize is how cool our parents can actually be. On some Saturday nights, I actually prefer to hang out with my mom instead of my friends. She gives better advice than any girl I’ve ever met, and knows how to find the best sales at the mall. I wouldn’t trust anyone else’s opinion when buying new jeans.

And if you think about it, the music from when they were our age isn’t actually that bad. Not only did my mom teach me table manners, she taught me how to head bang to Metallica and ACDC.

Because our parents have been teenagers already, they know the ins and outs of high school, relationships, and college life. Heck, my mom still parties harder than most college students[But it’s not just the awesome advice our parents can give, it’s the reassuring fact that they will always be there for us.

My mother will always drop what she is working on without hesitation to sit and talk to me. Listening to her voice and feeling her embrace can instantly lift my mood, despite what horrible things may have happened earlier.

 For all of you that think you won’t need your parents as you get older, think again.

These are the people who have supported us and loved us for our entire lives. When our worlds come crashing down, they are the ones waiting to catch us. Besides, who else is going to help us pay off college loans?

Don’t follow the trend and ignore your parents. They care about you more than you will ever know. Their nerdy tendencies may be annoying and embarrassing at times, but it’s something we have to deal with. After all, they put up with us every day.

Leah Polakoff is a reporter for The Patriot