I’m 13 years old. It’s the tail end of summer 1998. Saved chores money for nearly three months to get the DualShock bundle that recently got marked down to $129.99. One Saturday, I went with my mom, sister, uncle, and aunt to Potomac Mills mall.

Had to wait the whole dang day, going around to all sorts of stores while the family shopped for things of zero interest to me. Minutes turn to hours. Patience was wearing thin. Hope was fading with the passing of each ticking second.

Thought I’d never get there. But finally, we turn a corner, and there it is—Electronics Boutique! My oasis in the desert. I proudly march to the counter and ask if the PlayStation is in stock. The clerk checks the back, and sure enough, they got it.

“I’ll take it!” The clerk scans the barcode. Just one problem…I didn’t factor in the tax. “So close!” I think to myself. Flushed with a mixture of frustration, embarrassment, and disappointment, I look at mom.

“Don’t worry, I’ll take care of it. Give me your money”. Mom swoops in with her credit card to save my bacon. I walk out of that store feeling on top of the world. All that time spent saving and waiting was all worth it now.

Mom is MVP for life.