My dad was more creative than factual when making a point. When there was no dessert, he pointed out. “My mother or sisters made a cake every day.”
Other times, when we were ungrateful for how great we had it, he’d tell us his family sometimes went three days with nothing to eat but peas.
i piped up. “Why didn’t y’all eat one of those cakes your mama or sisters made every day?”
He took time out his busy day to teach me the difference in smart and smart aleck.
I could be something of a smart aleck as a child got into trouble for it at times but not always.
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My mouth got me in trouble a lot.
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In my book (poet, don’t listen), you were absolutely right, he had no right to discipline you either physically or verbally, and the only thing he taught you was to roll over for big lying bullies.
On the other hand, I raised mine strictly according to every law of love, logic, consistency and fair play I could bring to the job. She did turn out a contributing respectable citizen, but only to “prove me wrong”!
I remember one day at about eighteen months, when I looked at a friend and sighed.
“I guess there’s no such thing as a perfect mom,” I said.
Her response said it all.
“Oh, dear,” she looked at me worriedly. “Were you trying?”…
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That’s a good response.
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That response at that moment sure did a lot for me.
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That response, at that moment, sure did a lot for me.
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I’m glad your daughter turned out well.
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So am I. Being every inch a true mother, given the choice between her thriving and myself, I would (and did) naturally choose the former. Last I heard she was surrounded by three generations of lusty bawling family, and gainfully employed in a supervisory position.
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Wonderful
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👩❤️👩🙏👍
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Ohhh that did make me laugh!!! 😂😂😂😂
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I’m glad.
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🤣I remember the time I muttered something similar under my breath at my father… long story short; soap is not particularly enjoyable to eat. L xx
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Yea, us smarty pants had it rough, didn’t we?
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Lesson learnt I suppose… but wow have times have changed… there’s still plenty of muttering in my house, but I can not imagine the trouble I would be in if I resorted to soap!
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Our poor kids are missing out. I was appropriately fearful of Daddy. He had a hair trigger and low tolerance for smart assiness. He jerked me up and beat my butt regularly. He’d be prosecuted today. Back then, he was “strict.”
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I’m conflicted – I remember having plenty of similar ‘lessons’ – and similar respect which was really just fear – it made me compliant and polite – but I don’t know if it was ‘right’ – that said, I think we might have gone a bit too far to the soft side…
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I didn’t hit my kids, but I held them accountable. When they got in trouble, they had to make it right….talk to teacher……replace siblings broken item……that sort of thing. Recently, my daughter made it clear she thought I was an awful mother, the same thing I think about Daddy. I guess what comes around goes around. I’m sure Daddy thought he was doing right.
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That’s the irony of it… we do our best and then get judged as the worst… then time goes by and (perhaps) everyone changes their mind… or not. 🙃
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I’m sure my dad felt as badly as I do. “Hoist on my own petard.” I am glad now I never confronted him.
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Full circle moment indeed… xx
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You are right.
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You had reason on your side.
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People ought to think before they speak. Daddy was glorifying his sainted mother and sisters at Mothers expense. There’s no way that was true.
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