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May 13, 2006
Comes Back To Bite You On The Ass
When I was a kid, my mother was fond of telling me, “Some day when you grow up, I hope you have a daughter just like you.”
And she didn’t mean it in a nice way.
So I showed her: I turned around and had a son.
But . . . well. It turns out Sam is alarmingly like me.
Although I’m fond of saying that Sam inherited George’s stubborn streak and my joie de vivre, the truth is, I’m a bit mulish myself. So much so that my parents claim I drove them crazy as a child. Whatever. I like to think of it as being goal oriented, a useful trait that spurs me to finish books and meet deadlines. But still . . . when this single-minded determination if fused with the energy of a two-year-old, I have to admit it does get tiresome.
“Sam, don’t go near the water,” I say for the two-zillionth time in less than an hour.
We’re attending a party at the fountain park, which is, like, the coolest little kid park ever. Giant fountains erupt up out of the ground, and the kids run around like mad things, dodging in and out of the water.
Unfortunately, the park also has a beach (or maybe you consider this fortunate, if you enjoy breathtaking water views, and you don’t have a toddler with you). And yesterday, Sam was obsessed with wading into the water.
Me? Didn’t want to swim, largely because I wasn’t wearing a bathing suit, and I didn’t fancy the idea of diving into the water fully dressed.
“Look at the fountains! Wee! Fountains!” I enthuse, trying to pep Sam into giving up his quest to swim to England.
But Sam just looks at me, and then makes yet another attempt to run for the water. He tries the direct route. He tries the through-the-trees route. He tries the I’m-going-to-pretend- to-go-in-the-fountains-but-head-for-the-water-as-soon- as-her-back-is-turned route.
This went on for two hours. And at no time during that two hour period – not even when the clown performed, or the piñata was bludgeoned, or after I'd said no for the three-zillionth time – did Sam’s enthusiasm for going for a swim flag.
So, yes, payback can be a bitch. But, at least in this case, it’s also pretty damned cute.
Happy Mother’s Day everyone!
This blog was brought to you by The Comeback Kiss, Lani’s latest romantic comedy about first love, second chances, and the kind of trouble you can only get into when trying to do the right thing.
Posted by Whitney at 3:23 PM | Comments (6)
Comments
oh, boy do I remember the twos!! But it never ends. One day a few months ago, my daughter was driving me so completely insane that I called my mother.
Mom: Hello?
Me: I'm sorry.
Mom: What? What are you talking about? Sorry for what?
Me: For every single thing I did as a child.
Her: [big laughter]
Happy Mother's Day to everyone!!
Posted by: Alesia Holliday ![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.literarychicks.com/nav-commenters.gif)
at May 13, 2006 5:02 PM
My friend's mother always used to say, "you get one worse than you were."
I'm guessing that one just like you has to be better.
Posted by: Terri at May 14, 2006 12:38 AM
I have a very vivid memory of my mother standing in my doorway wishing that same exact thing on me. The universe took her literally... my 13-year-old clone is asleep down the hall...
Posted by: laurenjharwood at May 14, 2006 9:06 AM
What everone else said. I called my mom one day a few years ago, after a particularly trying day with my oldest daughter, and told her that if I was only HALF as difficult as my daughter was I was grateful that she had allowed me to reach adulthood! She laughed pretty hard at that... Now my oldest has become the easier of the two--and yes, she is my clone also--and the younger girl is my challenge. (sigh) Hate to burst your bubble, Whitney, but each stage has it's own challenges, and it doesn't get any easier the older they get, no matter what anyone says... Your little guy sounds like a lot of fun--my youngest daughter was a lot like that at that age. "No" just didn't register very well in her vocabulary!!
Posted by: Sheri at May 14, 2006 3:44 PM
My mom cursed us all the same way. My oldest sister had a daughter that didn't sleep through the night until she was seven. Sissy #2 had a child who still hasn't stopped whining and I have a child who was so revolted by a green bean and so intent on spitting it out that he brought it up through his nose.
Happy Mothers Day to you, Whitney!
Posted by: Eileen at May 15, 2006 7:45 PM
*laughs*
My mom cursed me. Then I had my first child and my mom pouted while I laughed.
Then I had daughter #2, and my mom howled maniacally.
Then I had my daughter #3 - and my mom said, "That hole curse thing? Sorry about that." as she warily stepped away from Heathen #3.
Then I had the angel boy, who can simply do no wrong. Full circle in motion.
Posted by: Brenda at May 15, 2006 11:25 PM
