While grocery shopping this weekend, I overheard an agitated mother gasp, “No! Don’t lick that! It’s full of cooties” It made me smile. People actually still say cooties. I don’t know if my Mother taught me that expression or if the neighborhood kids did. She was much more likely than my Dad to say odd things though. My Dad was good for standard stuff like, “My house, my rules!” But Mom was clever and she assumed her children were bright. I’m proof that sometimes you have to be careful what you tell your kids though.
The day before a Girl Scout meeting, I must have been chattering away about school or science or something and when I mentioned Alexander Graham Bell, my Mother said, “I went to high school with him.” I said, “Really?!” – interested, but not really thinking about how he clearly must have died before she was born. Anyway, the next day at the Girl Scout meeting we were in a circle and supposed to be sharing, in turn, something about our mothers. When it got around to me, I shared my cool, new information…that my mom went to high school with Alexander Graham Bell!! I can still see the troop leader’s face and hear her gentle words: “Oh, dear, she has a good sense of humor, doesn’t she?” It was at that point I discovered, in front of my friends, that my Mom was pulling my leg! I don’t know my age, but I was already pretty tall, so I think I was old enough to know better! I’m taller now, but still pretty gullible.
Some people remember great words of wisdom from their parents. One friend’s Dad always said to her, “Keep the faith, you shall be guided, one day at a time, may God give you wisdom, knowledge and guidance and tomorrow is a new day.” Another friend’s mother always used to tell her, “Beauty is as beauty does.” These are the things I remember from my mom:
Seriously. That’s what I remember and I’ve been thinking about it for days. If there was other profound parental advice, it didn’t stick with me. But today I cook fearlessly, I was Phi Beta Kappa and my hair is curly.
The day before a Girl Scout meeting, I must have been chattering away about school or science or something and when I mentioned Alexander Graham Bell, my Mother said, “I went to high school with him.” I said, “Really?!” – interested, but not really thinking about how he clearly must have died before she was born. Anyway, the next day at the Girl Scout meeting we were in a circle and supposed to be sharing, in turn, something about our mothers. When it got around to me, I shared my cool, new information…that my mom went to high school with Alexander Graham Bell!! I can still see the troop leader’s face and hear her gentle words: “Oh, dear, she has a good sense of humor, doesn’t she?” It was at that point I discovered, in front of my friends, that my Mom was pulling my leg! I don’t know my age, but I was already pretty tall, so I think I was old enough to know better! I’m taller now, but still pretty gullible.
Some people remember great words of wisdom from their parents. One friend’s Dad always said to her, “Keep the faith, you shall be guided, one day at a time, may God give you wisdom, knowledge and guidance and tomorrow is a new day.” Another friend’s mother always used to tell her, “Beauty is as beauty does.” These are the things I remember from my mom:
- If you read, you can cook.
- Psychologists are the odd studying the id.
- Your big second toe is a sign of intelligence.
- Eat your bread crusts; they will make your hair curly.
Seriously. That’s what I remember and I’ve been thinking about it for days. If there was other profound parental advice, it didn’t stick with me. But today I cook fearlessly, I was Phi Beta Kappa and my hair is curly.