My mom was fortunate in that she was able to stay at home while raising me.

When I started school, she suddenly decided that the best place for her would be as a sort of teacher's aide. In my classroom. Every year.

When I went to junior high, she became a "band parent" - chaperoning trips, doing concessions, etc.

High school was the first time I was ever actually able to get some breathing room. It was refreshing as heck. I got in a little bit of trouble one time and suddenly that was all it took to jerk her back into helicopter mode.

By the time college rolls around, I was planning to get some basic classes locally and then transfer to another university for my major.

Which just so happened to coincide with this was the fact that suddenly my mom got a job at the school I was attending. The semester right after I enrolled. -___-

And it wasn't just school. Every guy I dated would be scrutinized like crazy. I remember one in particular. We were pretty into each other. She would follow him after he dropped me off, to see where he was going (and who he was going with).

Of course nothing even remotely interested happened so she'd come home and tell me she was sure he was cheating and just wait till she got proof and she could say I TOLD YOU SO.

Marriage.. oh my God. She actively tried to convince my husband and I to spend our honeymoon at their home and THEN go on our trip the next day.

Fortunately, my husband puts up with absolutely none of this shit but damn if she still doesn't try to insert herself into our plans whenever possible.

I love my mom and would do anything in the world for her but to this day I deal with huge insecurity issues and a lack of self confidence.