17 different women, 36 crazy children, 0 babies in utero
Adventures, Advice and Questions from a group of Mormon women who met in Queens, NY and have now scattered all over the place.
 

Friday, June 23, 2006

Hook, line, and sinker

Yesterday, Max and I went on a walk around the lake behind our house. Right at the start of our walk, we came upon one of the girls who live next door (there are 4 of them) - Cassie is 12, and she and 3 of her friends were fishing in the lake. Max "helped" them fish for quite a while, sharing a pole with Cassie. All was going so well. And then the inevitable happened - one of the girls caught a fish.

The girls brought the fish above the water and used a net to scoop it up. So far so good. They spent some time examining the fish and showing it to Max. Okay, great. Then, one of them turned to me and say "Can you take the hook out?"

My first thought was "What on earth would make you think I know how to do that or would even want to?" But before I opened my mouth, I realized that I knew the answer to the question already - I'm a Mom and therefore, I must know how to do such things. Um... when did I become the all-knowing adult? I certainly don't feel that way. What part of growing and then raising a child to the age of three makes me so knowledgeable in the eyes of these girls, not even my own children? I suppose it is a testament to their own mothers that they have such faith in the power of mother-figures to figure it out, take care of it, know how. Will there ever come a point where I feel worthy of that kind of trust? And is it a natural part of a healthy mother-child relationship, or do I now have to add that to my list of worries of things I'll screw up with Max? Gulp.

So in order to preserve their (soon to be buried in teenage attitude) trust, and in order to build it in my son....

I took out the hook. And I managed to do it without squealing, or even making faces. And I waited until I got home and washed my hands to say "ew ew ew ew ew ew ew ew ew ewwwwwwww". But I did it.

So, what have you done to preserve the "rep" of The Mom?

posted by marian @ 6/23/2006 05:37:00 AM   add to kirtsy


10 Comments:

  • Great post, Marian! I'm so proud of you, hook remover queen.

    My consession to preserving the all-knowing mom profile has been to show no fear around animals. I really don't like dogs and the bigger they are the more nervous I get. But my kids LOVE dogs and so I have had to "erase" my fear around dogs we come across so as not to taint their new experiences. It's actually been a healthy thing for me, but I certainly wouldn't do it if not for my kids.
    posted by Blogger chloe at 6/23/2006 06:00:00 AM  



  • Yesterday dd found a frog skeleton somewhere in our yard. She proudly carried it to me to show it off. Ugh. I wouldn't touch it, but I tried to squelch my "Ick eew" impulse. I was happy that my princess lover was interested in something new and potentially disgusting for her!
    posted by Blogger Belle at 6/23/2006 08:48:00 AM  



  • Good for you! I'm trying to think if I have any of my own stories. Maybe my first earthquake ever. It sounded like elephants were running through the house upstairs. It took me a second to figure out what it was. My 3 year old and 1 year old just stood there and looked at me, waiting for me before they reacted. Once I knew what it was, I said "Its an earthquake. COme with me under the table." They had a great time under the table with me.
    That, plus cleaning up throw up, or taking care of kids while I'm really sick or dealing with a big emotional burden, have meant I stepped up to be the adult and take care of them because I am the adult, and there is no one else.
    posted by Anonymous Anonymous at 6/23/2006 08:54:00 AM  



  • I clean up vomit without vomiting myself.
    posted by Anonymous Anonymous at 6/23/2006 08:58:00 AM  



  • I have never jumped off a diving board. I can barely swim. I have no intention of ever really improving, but somehow my kids think swimming lessons are the best part of summer. The bob, glide, kick and blow bubbles all summer and they are having a great time and learning to swim without the same trauma I endured.
    And when it comes to diving board day, I always bring my video camera and cheer really loud, even if they change their minds and don't jump. I want them to have fun swimming and to not be afraid of everything (kind of like their mom used to be)
    I think motherhood cures us of some amount of fear. I mean, come on, you can't give birth and not conquer some fears about your body and life in general.

    Way to go on the hook thing, Marian.

    A Normal Mom
    posted by Anonymous Anonymous at 6/23/2006 02:51:00 PM  



  • I love the title with the double meaning. What amazing summers Max is going to have living next to a lake! I'm still thinking on the Mom rep thing....I guess I haven't done much (yet!)
    posted by Blogger Jen at 6/23/2006 07:27:00 PM  



  • Holding creepy crawlies and worms. Something I did as a kid and now I'd just rather not! But, occasionally I do to show my kids that bugs are not scary.

    I remember my sister in law telling us how her reputation of the ALL KNOWING mother was shattered when her son asked her what one of his friend's phone numbers was. She didn't know. He gave her this look of, BUT HOW!!? I guess he was so used to her rattling off so many family and neighbor's numbers he figured she just knew them ALL! :)
    posted by Blogger Katie at 6/24/2006 12:46:00 PM  



  • Great post. I held a garder snake my son found in the yard and ooohed and ahhhed with him about how cool it was. It's amazing the power we moms have to control our facial expression! YUCK!! was what I was thinking!
    posted by Blogger hi, it's me! melissa c at 6/24/2006 06:31:00 PM  



  • Our cat has left, more than once, a dead mouse or bird in our backyard --and the children have discovered them...much to my horror! Of course, I just say, "okay, don't touch it guys...wait a minute" go and get loads of paper towels and go throw the "bodies" into the garbage can. And I can't believe I do it without flinching!
    posted by Blogger Cheryl at 6/24/2006 06:55:00 PM  



  • I think really my only moment like that was subway vomit.
    posted by Blogger Kage at 6/25/2006 12:12:00 PM  



Post a Comment

<< Home