From the Mouth of My Little Babe
October 29, 2008
"I have to watch my cholesterol because it's high," I said to my daughter as I took my pill.
"Is that because you eat too much?" my daughter asked, but it sounded more like a statement to me.
I looked at her. "I don't eat too much. It's genetic." Hey, I have to cover for myself somehow. But really, I don't. And I am still a potato chip-free zone.
* * *
"You know, you're not doing anything by not taking a bag at the store."
"We each need to do what we can, and together that can have an impact."
"A bag."
"Every bit helps. I need to feel that I am doing something."
She's back to her ipod.
* * *
She has to do a political poster for someone running for office in Virginia; she is doing one for James Gilmore, Republican former governor running for the Senate whose slogan is: Drill Here, Drill Now.
"I think he did some good things. Like making women wait 24 hours before having an abortion. That's good that they think about it."
Steam coming out of my ears, breathe, and then response. "Every woman thinks about it long and hard before having an abortion. It's not something that any one rushes into."
"You're so closed minded."
Back to her ipod. Back to the opera and the fat lady singing for me.
* * *
People keep telling me that in the future they will appreciate me. But it's darn hard in the present.
I hear you. But step back in time for a moment and just think back to when you were the one talking to your mom about politics, policy, the world as you saw it. What did that sound like?
Posted by: Walking In My Sleep | October 29, 2008 at 06:49 PM
I think I was silent and looked out the window unable to believe how my mother did not understand anything. Oh, the cycle of life, how harsh it can be.
Posted by: Laura of Rebellious Thoughts of a Woman | October 29, 2008 at 07:07 PM
We keep telling our son that every kid goes through that period where they think their parents are idiots and don't know anything. Mine was about the age of 16, 17. Then when I got out into the real world and was paying my own bills, I had a whole new appreciation for her.
You could also look at it this way: you and your daughter have differing views on things; she's speaking her mind. She's gaining skills that will help her to be an independent, free thinker. Does that help?
Posted by: JC | October 29, 2008 at 07:29 PM
I'm afraid. Very, very afraid. (Translation: I have an 8 year old who's on the fast track to knowing EVERYTHING while regarding her mother as one of the severely intellectually-challenged)
Posted by: Izzy | October 29, 2008 at 10:39 PM
Sorry it took a while to get back to you, but I got sidetracked with the Bat Mitzvah, election and mediation.
JC: Little daughter is nothing like me, which is odd, since big daughter is so much like me. I don't take her comments to heart so much because they are not said to hurt me, but to state the facts as her mind comprehends them. But I really need not to lose an ally in the house.
Izzy, well, consider this time your internship to tween and teen years. By that time you will realize that you don't care what her room looks like, don't care what she eats or listens to or even who her friends are on Facebook, just as long as she doesn't snarl at you, or at least not all of the time. As JC said, welcome to being the mother of an independent-minded child.
Posted by: Laura of Rebellious Thoughts of a Woman | November 08, 2008 at 12:42 PM