I really enjoy reading your reflections. You have a style that's intriguing and it flows so well. Thank you for sharing all these thoughts here! It's always so interesting hearing about others' lives. I especially think it's sad that your mother admired traits in your friend that she wouldn't allow room for you to develop. It's so weird the way our parents think of themselves and others, and the influence they have over us. And how the impressions we are left with are often so different from how the parents themselves perceive their own influence. I wonder about that a lot, from the perspective of being someone's child, but also the perspective of being someone's parent. Interesting to wonder about, anyway. Great job with this piece!