Little Traditions

The other night, as I was slathering cream on my-getting-a-little-older feet, vowing to make it a nightly ritual, my thoughts turned to the scene in Funny Lady, when Barbra Streisand, as Fanny Brice, is going through her nightly beauty ritual, which included rubbing lemons on her elbows and knees.

Stay with me here.

My thoughts then wandered to Funny Girl, because Funny Girl was WAY better than Funny Lady, and Funny Girl happens to be me favorite movie. Then I thought about sharing that with my daughters. What will that day be like? How old will they be? Will they embrace Funny Girl? Will they become die-hard Barbra Fans too?

Then I started thinking about my own mother and what she tried to indoctrinate in me. The list: Madame Alexander Dolls, Olivia Newton John, Aerobics, Crosstitching, Make up, Haley Mills Movies (Summer Magic, Pollyanna, The Parent Trap), White Christmas, Dachshunds, Talbots, Lladros.

She didn't force anything on me, these were just things that she really enjoyed and introduced us to, and we clinged to those things as well. She grew up with a Dachshund named Schatze, so growing up we had two: Barney and Chloe. She collected dolls growing up, so she gave her daughters a doll on special occasions. She worked out, so we worked out.

I thought about what I have held on to, from that list, and what I will pass along to my daughters. I have already bought Summer Magic to show my daughters, I have in my possession I think 3 of quite a few MA Dolls, the rest of which are stored at my mother's house and I have no particular attachment to. And my girls have a few MA baby dolls. I no longer cross stitch. If I cross stitch again, it will probably to make a stocking if I have another child, I am just NOT into it like my mother is. I do enjoy watching White Christmas. If I was to get a dog, it would not be a dachshund. I love make up. I think it is safe to say that I will not purchase anything at Talbots, for at least the next 15 years...maybe more, it's just not my style. My mother gave me a lladro when I graduated college. I really appreciate the gift, and it is in a special place right now: protected in my closet, until one day I have a more formal room to display it in, and no little hands to destroy it.

As for what I will pass on to my children?
Barbra (of course), Books (my favorites), music, rollerblading, and probably makeup...

It's also fun to find what they love just as much as you do (or did), on that list is My Little Ponies, Barbies, the movie Peter Pan and chocolate.

So what about you?