Sunday, February 6, 2011

Becoming My Mother

There are many ways in which I want to be like my mom. There are also some ways I don't mind not being like her. For example, my mom is approximately three feet tall, and I don't particularly care to sink to her level on that one (kidding! She's like 4'9" or something).

I have earned the absentmindedness she mastered long ago (one of motherhood's awards). I am getting the lack of attentiveness down, too. She showed it by "listening" to what we said with a faraway look and then slowly repeating the last three or four words of our discourse, as if it might help her register the other 300 words that came before (it did not help and she never remembered what we had said). I show my inattentiveness by saying, "I'm thinking of a million things right now: tell me later. " or just "Now is not a good time." or occasionally, "Leave me the heck alone." (they know I'm kidding) or if I'm stressed, "I don't care right now." (such a dear, dear mother!)

Another thing I have in common with my mother is the ability to laugh at myself. I am grateful to have inherited this trait. If my future is going to be anything like my mother's I'm going to need it. It's a good thing she has this one mastered because her offspring are terrible teasers and there is nobody we like to tease more than mom (and she makes it so easy! Love you, mom).

Evie is already starting to tease me a lot. She has always been the best laugher at jokes but now she laughs at my personality a lot, too. This is a good thing because I sort of talk through things a lot and my internal dialogue comes out, which is often humorous (for one reason or another) and so should be laughed at, I suppose. But it's the making fun of me that I'm not sure I'm ready for.

Tonight we had this conversation:

Me: (looking at the clock) What!?! It's 7:20 already!?! I don't believe that!!

Greg: (in a sing-song voice) You never do.

Me: I know. I have never, ever believed it was 7:20. Not once.

Evie: No mom, you're supposed to say, "How did that happen!?!"

Me: (seriously confused) What? Am I often surprised at how late it is?

Evie, Greg, David: giggles/laughter

Me: Ugh.

And so it begins, I suppose. I guess I'd better start getting used to it since as we age my absentmindedness will only get worse and my kids will only get sassier. *sigh*

11 comments:

Barbaloot said...

Doesn't sound like you're lacking in sass. "I know. I have never, ever believed it was 7:20. Not once." :)

Andi Kate, Children's Author said...

I never believe what time it is. Or what month it is. Or when it's a new year. Or when someone else's child is older. Years older. Why is that?!

Alison Wonderland said...

They'll probably get sassier but as you get absentmindedier you'll probably notice it less. I think it all comes out in the wash.

Carolyn V said...

Aw! Those are awesome traits to have. I love the laughing at yourself. I think we all need more of that.

I was noticing the other night how much I sound like my mom. It made me laugh, because my daughter is starting to sound a lot like me!

Jocelyn Christensen said...

This is sweet and funny! Thanks for your comment on my interview over at Diapers & Divinity! Glad to meet a new friend...and wait a minute...YOU LIVE IN POLAND??????? I need your help.......Maybe you can help me with my family history search??? I am sorta stuck.....we need to talk!!

email me! jocelyn.christensen@gmail.com

Erin said...

I am a PRO at absentmindedness. In fact, that is what my blog post was about (in a way) yesterday.

And Christian teases me about things I say too, but I am being so absentminded right now I can't think of any specifics :)

Yet again, another showing of you and me seeming to be alike. WHEN are we actually going to meet???

Kazzy said...

I get these alzheimers panic attacks when I can't remember something. Seriously. Your mom sounds like a cute little gem!

Melanie Jacobson said...

It's probably wrong that I find my oldest son's sassiness funnier as he gets older, but I do.

Loralee and the gang... said...

Seems like you jumped right into what's left of my atrophied, pregnacy-hormone depleted brain...

Heidi said...

It gets worse as they get older and more observant. I often wonder how childless people could possibly become humbled enough to enter the celestial kingdom--kids are so good at humbling their parents. :)

Susan said...

I can't believe this stuff is newish to you! I thought you were supposed to just be a year behind... Maybe it's that gap in the the babies' ages, because you're describing my life about the time Beth was 2 or so...
I totally agree with Melanie though, it's so fun as they get older, even though they DO notice more and tease more!
Also, isn't it weird to think that mom had FEELings all that time? How she survived us all I'll never know!!!