I’m already becoming my mother, and I’m 23, without any kids of my own yet.
I went on a day trip with my friends 2 weeks ago, and found myself packing my bottle of sunscreen just in case someone had forgotten to put any on before leaving. Plus Band-Aids, Tylenol, napkins, and plastic spoons.
My friends call me Mom. It’s so sad. I just want to make sure everyone will be okay!
About 10 years ago, one of my sophomore classes was being more rambunctious than usual. I had too much to do in too little time, and they weren’t helping. I snapped and started berating them, wagging my finger and detailing their sins. Then I noticed what I was doing…and stopped. I looked at my finger, there at the end of my hand, poised in mid-wag.
“Class, I apologize. Somehow I have acquired my father’s finger.”
You know, they all understood. That class was never a problem again. And I have kept my father’s finger completely under wraps since then.
Aww, it’s okay, Antigen. I carry the everything bag too- first-aid crap, extra nylons, hairspray, various beauty crap, painkillers, sewing project, the whole 8 7/8 yards. People tease me at first but they seem to shut up when they realize they’ve forgotten some crucial thing. Plus, those giant shoulder bags are incredibly useful when people run out of carrying space.
::Grumble grumble:: *Don’t those neighbors ever go to bed? * ::Floors vibrate:: Argh! The music! It’s two in the morning! ::Pound on wall:: Oh dear Og, I’ve become my mother.
I first really noticed it the day I was driving somewhere with the critters in tow, and in response to their incessant squabbling I yelled, “If y’all don’t knock that off RIGHT NOW, I’m going to pull this car over and start beating animals, and I don’t care whose they are!”
I love my parents, but I am the exact opposite of my parents in virtually every way.
Having said that, I finished “sewing my oats” by the time I got married. No more wild parties in the “group house”. No more bong hits. No more Dead shows. No more one night stands. No more 12 hour Playstation marathons. No more road trips.
It’s responsibility time now. It’s about raising a family. It’s about developing a life long bond with my wife. It’s about developing a career. It’s about morgage payments, car payments, saving for my kids college. It’s about working in the yard. It’s about excercising and losing weight. It’s about quality time with friends who have kids. It’s about family vacations. It’s about quit time at home, after the kids are in bed (and yes, that includes American Idol, Journey CD’s, and Stephen King novels).
I’ve seen both sides of the fence, and I like the side I am on now the best!
By the time my old man was the age I am now, he had a graduate degree, flew super-sonic jet fighters, had 5 kids and (on paper) was a multi-millionaire.
My brothers and sister like to “bash” him, because he wasn’t alway the most “lovey-dovey, touchy-feely” kind of guy. I notice they don’t bitch too much about the nice houses they live in and cars that they drive, all provided by his hard work and business savvy. (all three of them live in houses he bought, 2 of them don’t even have jobs because they live of residual income from investments he made in thier name! :rolleyes: ) Lord knows I wouldn’t have anywhere near the lifestyle I enjoy without his foresight and planning. (I get some of that residual, too! And I only work 30 hours a week, mainly to have company provided healthcare for me and the family)
My old man was the smartest, shrewedest cat I’ve know (my boss is a distant second) and if I could be as successful as he was, in as many arenas as he was, I wouldn’t have anything to bitch about. Not that I have all that much to bitch about now.
So, I guess my answer is “I wish I did years ago!”. (but I wouldn’t drink vodka. I’d stick to homebrew beer)
I admire people like that to no end and aim to become one some day. I’m already always practicing getting around rules, being sneaky, working super-hard, and acquiring connections everywhere (it’s all about connections…at one local mall I can always get free food and movie tickets and I know a guy at the airport that put me on a flight I shouldn’t have gotten onto when I missed mine…and I just see people around me getting far because they know people). Anything else I have to do?
The day I told my parents that their house was a mess*; they weren’t eating enough vegetables; and the tv was too loud, I knew I was channeling them. The day I told them that going to the casino every Friday for Seniors Day was becoming a habit, I was blurring the line. The day I told them both to put sweaters on because I was cold, I knew I had “Crossed Over”
*[SIZE=1]To be fair, the house was a mess because it also contained all the furniture from my Grandmother’s house, which had just been sold.[/SIZE1]
I’m turning into my mom right now, and I don’t even have kids. I’m only 21. I’m too young to be insane. I knew I crossed over when I took my husband to lunch and he ordered a 5 dollar sandwich instead of 2.50 hamburger and I flipped out. I’m trying to save money, damnit!
Like the $2.50 would break us.
But it was exactly like something she would do.
I figure at this rate, I’ll be my grandmother by the time I’m 30 and then the fun will really start. (She’s such a mean, insane old bat…)
