Some won't admit it, but we've all been there.

The moment it hit you: You've become your mother.

Maybe it's the way you swing your hips when walking or your knack for guessing people's astrological signs.

Perhaps your silhouettes are indistinguishable - or your hairlines. Can you share clothes, swap golf clubs or finish one another's sentences?

This Mother's Day, we share some of your "momma" moments.

* * *

Her laugh

It's our laugh! No matter where we're at, what we're doing or who we're with, everyone tells me I have my mom's laugh. Realizing this and believing that this is a good thing took me awhile, but, nonetheless, I truly do love laughing more than anything.

- Melinda Zimmerer, 48, of York Township is the daughter of Kay Gable.

Her Spoonerisms

Spoonerisms: My mom is famous for these little quips that come out in an important conversation and make us all laugh. Things like, "Give the fogs some dood," and, "Loung yady," make my mom the innocent jokester that she is.

Now, I have never been one to easily express a story. One day, I'm telling my sister about a friend who spilled wine all over her nice blouse. I say, with utmost seriousness ". . . and when she picked it up, the wass of gline fell!" Here, I stop and smile. My mother would be proud; I slipped a "mommerism."

- Aleithea Flanary, 17, of Glen Rock is the daughter of Debbie Flanary.

Her hands

One day a few years back, I looked at my hands only to see my mother's hands attached to my body. It was a shock at first . . . When did I become my mother? As I look back over the years, I found that I became her a little each day over time. It wasn't all of a sudden, but I eased into it as I aged. In some ways, I am so not like my mother, but in others I see her in my every step. I have come to have a much deeper appreciation

for who she was and all that she did as I raise my own children.

- Kay Rainwater, 52, of West Manchester Township is the daughter of Esther Mae Rainwater.

Her forgetfulness

While at Target, I misplaced my CD of pictures to be developed. I doubted whether I had taken it out of the car or even out the house. After frantic searching of my car, pocketbook and pockets, I spotted it on the roof of my car. Of all the great traits my mother possesses, I never thought I would inherit her forgetfulness. My mother would lose her head if it were not attached to her neck. It's only fair my 4-month-old son will also one day inherit this trait.

- Natasha Bare, 21, of Springettsbury Township is the daughter of Connie Bare.

Her taste in clothes

I realized that I was just like my mother when I started purchasing the same name label of clothes that she wears. For many years, my mother has bought the name brand Alfred Dunner clothing. We never had the same taste in clothes until several years ago, when I purchased some Alfred Dunner label clothes. I then realized that I was just like my mother. To put icing on the cake, I took her shopping at the Gettysburg Outlets. We were in the Bon Worth store, and we both purchased the same blouse!

- Cindy Roach, 52, of Washington Township is the daughter of Dolores Diehl.

Her love of music

My late mother was my role model and mentor. As an Avon manager, she never met a stranger, nor have I, and her business manners allowed me to have a successful career. As a music teacher, she instilled in me her love of song, and even though I'm not in a choir, I sing the "Hallelujah Chorus" every Christmas (with her in spirit). . . .

When I retired, I told my husband I wanted to help the elderly and get involved with Meals on Wheels. At that moment, I realized it was exactly what she did when she retired and later told me it was very rewarding.

Sometimes it takes a long time to identify with someone you're close with - like you can't see the forest for the trees. But when it hits, it's mind-boggling.

- Donna Skaggs, 62, of Mount Wolf is the daughter of Nedra Kuhns.

Her color choices

I lived under the same roof with both parents for 24 years. On Sundays, I'll pick something out to wear and get to church to discover mom wore a shade of the same color or exact color I'm wearing! I wore an emerald top for St. Patty's Day, and she wore a light green sweater.

We laugh about it when we arrive and see we're wearing similar colors. This happens throughout the year and happened when I lived at home! Also, we sound alike on the phone and have been mistaken for one another when people call. Even though we don't look alike, I am very much her daughter!

- Jessica Harvey, 26, of Springettsbury Township is the daughter of Sharon Harvey.

Her stubborness

We think, act, eat and sleep alike. We are both fun, loving, giving, open-minded and down-to-earth people. We're both avid readers and compulsive organizers, and we're picky about things matching. We both have an eye for decorating. We dress for comfort, like to receive mail, enjoy looking at catalogues and have a weakness for office supplies, books and purses. I'm even proud to say we're both stubborn and are not afraid to say what's on our minds. We even get the same illnesses. In fact, my mom often says she's going to keep a list of her symptoms and diagnoses so that I'll be prepared when they happen to me.

From a young age, I often said I wanted to be like my mom, and almost every time we're together, something comes up that makes us say, "We are so much alike that it's scary." What can I say? I truly learned from the best.

- Kristi King, 36, of Hopewell Township is the daughter of Connie Strawderman.

Her caretaking skills

I can only hope that I am half the mother that my mother is. She is more than willing to help anyone she can. She has always taken care of everyone but herself. She helped raise her siblings, she raised my sister and I, then she took care of my grandmother. We lost my little sister to a heart attack at 25, and now, she helps raise my nephew. If I can even be half as caring and giving as my mother is, then I am a great person. I am proud to say she is my mother.

- Brooke Wiley, 29, of West Manchester Township is the daughter of Karen Waldrup.

Her comforting

The thing is, there really isn't a first time I realized I was just like my mother. They just kind of happen all the time. When I am mad, excited or happy you can see my mother in me.

One day, my friend was not having the best day, and I tried to comfort her. . . . I started thinking how my mother likes to comfort people - when they are sad, and need a little happiness she will help them out.

I love my mom. . . . We are like the song "Inseparable" by the Jonas Brothers. No one could ever separate us.

- Alicia Miller, 14, of West York is the daughter of Shannon Moyer.

Her kindness

My mother was always there for anyone who was in need. She gave furniture, clothing and even opened up her home. While growing up with two brothers and two sisters, mom and dad always had a stranger in our home to help with shelter, guidance and direction. . . . My mother has taught me a great lesson and that our purpose on this earth isn't just about us. It's about what we can do for our neighbor. God has been good to us, so let's be good to others. . . . I have opened my home to strangers and have given furniture, clothing, car rides, my time and a listening ear. I am so thankful I've inherited this special gift from my mother.

- David Geiger of Waymart is the son of Joan Geiger, 70, of Dover Township.

Her smile

Although I had been told as a child I looked like my mom, it took my returning to York (my hometown) after 10 years away to realize I am, in fact, just like her. I work in a similar capacity to her and weekly people comment to me that I look just like her, especially when I smile. The most obvious similarity is our looks, but we also share the same spirit, love of life and priority of family.

- Kristin Byrnes Baker, 28, of Springettsbury Township is the daughter of Susan Petron Byrnes.

Her strength

I realized I was just like my mother a few weeks ago. My mom told me she might have cancer. Me, the optimist - and the pessimist I've always seen in my mother - had changed places. Mom gave me strength to get through the next three weeks before her surgery. The day before her surgery she called and said don't worry and that it would be OK. I started crying and she said, "Please don't worry. I'll be fine." I said, "I can't help it, mom, I've become you." She said, with a smile in her voice, "Yes, I know."

- Stacy Portko, 48, of York Springs is the daughter of Shirley Sinclair.

771-2024; mburke@ydr.com

100 YEARS OLD

The Mother's Day tradition is a century old today.

Grafton, W.Va., considers itself the holiday's birthplace and is home to the International Mother's Day Shrine (incorporated in 1972).

There, the first Mother's Day service was held at Andrews Methodist Episcopal Church at the request of Anna Jarvis on May 10, 1908. It was the church her mother attended.

In 1914, Congress set Mother's Day to be the second Sunday in May. It's become one of the most commercially successful holidays.

-- The Washington Post

MOMMY FACTS

82.8 million
Estimated number of mothers in the U.S. in 2004

4.3 million
Births in the U.S. in 2006

August
The month with the highest number of births

Tuesday
The day of the week with the highest number of births

5.6 million
Number of stay-at-home moms in 2006

54 percent and 79 percent
Percentages of children younger than 6 who eat breakfast and dinner, respectively, with their mother every day

Source: Census Bureau

EXCHANGE

What was a moment you realized how you're like your mother?

Click here to share it on the Exchange.

DADS 'R US

When she told you she was pregnant and you realized you were going to be a father, you probably expected certain things. But it's hard to fully anticipate the joys, challenges and foibles of fatherhood until you're actually in it.

With Father's Day approaching, we'd like to know what nobody told you about being a dad. What do you wish you knew going into it? What would you tell other dads-to-be?

Send your response, in 100 words or less, to jvogelsong@ydr.com or to the York Daily Record/Sunday News c/o Jennifer Vogelsong, 1891 Loucks Road, York PA 19408-9708. Include your name, age, the municipality where you live and a daytime phone number. Please also include the name(s) and age(s) of your children.

Deadline is May 19.

MOMS-RELATED NEWS

Dining out

It's a few days before Mother's Day and Robert Jenkins jumps every time the phone rings.

He's got about 220 reservations at his Cajun-style restaurant, Bayou, for brunch on Sunday. Last year, he had 300 reservations -- but with the economy sagging, business is down.

Like many in the industry, he believes that love for Mom will trump fears about the economy. So when the phone rings this week, he's hoping it's someone booking a spot in his 115-seat dining room.

Mother's Day is the restaurant industry's busiest day of the year. If the holiday doesn't go well, profits could be affected for the rest of the year in what's already been a tough environment.

Though Americans are projected to spend more than $1.5 billion each day this year at restaurants, many are pulling back in the wake of rising gas and food prices and shaky job markets.

Families like the O'Connells outside of Pittsburgh are trying to eat at home more often.

This includes skipping an annual brunch at the Casbah restaurant on Mother's Day on Sunday and attending a cookout with family members instead.

Julia O'Connell said she and her husband want to make cuts as other expenses rise. Instead of eating out two to three times a week near their home in Fox Chapel, Pa., they limit trips for them and their two children to Friday nights, shaving their monthly restaurant bill from $400 to under $250.
Father of the bride

President Bush, who often jokes about being sure to listen to his mother, will be with her on Mother's Day -- the day after celebrating the wedding of his daughter Jenna.

"This is a joyous occasion for our family, as we celebrate the happy life ahead of (Jenna) and her husband, Henry," he said. "It's also a special time for Laura, who this Mother's Day weekend will watch a young woman we raised together walk down the aisle."

In his weekly radio address, Bush offered special words for new mothers and women parenting adopted children. He also extended condolences to mothers who are grieving for sons or daughters killed in war -- and the children of mothers who have died serving the nation.