You know you're turning into your mother when...

Have you morphed into your mum? See our checklist.

Mother and daughter
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Remember when you used to look at your mother and think 'I will never be like that'. You just couldn't imagine being so boring, or just plain irritating, however much you love her. 

It happens so, so gradually but have you noticed the similarities recently?

How many do you score in this 'I'm turning into my mum!' list?

1. You wear embarrassing shoes. Embarrassing for your children, that is. You love them. Comfy wide boots that don't touch your sore toes, glittery converses that make you smile, warm slouchy slippers. 

2. You put your slippers on when you get home. 

3. You say out loud 'Why am I here?' when you go into another room or look in a cupboard. 

4. You make strange oufff noises when you sit down - and when you stand up. 

5. You frown when you look in the mirror. Sometimes you pull that little bit of extra flesh nearer your ears. 

6. You say 'hmmm' and zone out. Sometimes your children test you by asking 'Can I run naked down the street, Mum?' or 'So it's OK if I use your card to book those festival tickets?' And then you spring back to life. 

7. You love an elasticated or drawstring waist. 

8. You do that scary, icy look when faced with careless or bad service.  

9. You ask your children leading questions about their friends which they and you  know translates as 'What do you see in them? You could do so much better than that' without actually saying anything.

10. You much prefer an evening watching a gritty drama (while wearing slippers) to standing in a pub shouting.

11. You worry about your teenagers wearing coats. You try and thrust warm clothing on them while their friends look embarrassed. 

12. You talk about the weather. A lot. 

13. You shout to your children to come, come, come and look. 'A full moon! A rainbow! A beautiful sunset!' Look at that view!' They're never as excited as you. They look blank eyed and shrug. 

14. You get very nostalgic for how your children used to be - in front of them. They've heard it all before. 

15. You dance around the kitchen looking like a loon when your favourite record - yes, record - comes on. You get a teeny bit puffy but you try not to show it. How did you ever used to dance all night?

16. Your children call your choice in films and music 'lame'.

17. They say you're 'a beg' when you're just being polite. Cue lecture on 'the importance of politeness and how a little goes a long way'. (See 22!)

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18. You do love a cup of tea. You love tea more than cocktails. How did that happen?

19. You want a blow-by-blow account of everyone's day from the second they walked out the door in the morning - especially what your children had for school dinners, how much they ate and whether they liked it.   

20. You grumble a lot about cleaning the hob. But no one else does it right. 

21. You have a laundry system. It pains you when other members of your family don't hang washing out taut or mix up whites and coloureds.  You know they're trying to help but 'if a job's worth doing, it's worth doing right'.

22. Your mum's phrases come out of your mouth. Even if you're not sure you really believe them. 

23. You find drunkeness boring, not funny. 

24. You always have a tissue on you, stuffed up your sleeve, in your handbag. (See 28!)

25. Your handbag is HUGE and filled with useful things for other people. 

26. You like quality clothes that last and talk about 'cost per wear'. 'But when would you wear it?' is no longer your mum's voice in your head. You're saying those words. 

27. You say 'HOW much?' in tones of amazement/ bewilderment/ betrayal. 

28. You smear a damp tissue around your children's mouths, even though you swore you would never, ever do that.

29. You love the garden centre. 

30. You make lists. Quite boring lists for work, home, birthdays.

This non-boring list is by no means definitive. What would you add?

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