Career Path

When you were five, what did you want to be when you grew up?

My mother shot down my career path early. When I expressed my intention of being a cowgirl, Mother stomped that out immediately. “No, you’re not going to be a cowgirl.”

She gave my needs no consideration. It never occurred to me to argue. She was my mother, after all. She was “the boss.” Fortunately, I had a backup plan. “Then I’ll be a ballerina.” I’d recently admired a tutu.

“No, you can’t be a ballerina. Dancing makes you have big legs.”

I don’t know where she got that.

“You’ll probably do just like I did and get married and have kids.”

“That’s stupid! I’m not doing that!”

She didn’t like that smart alec answer. so smacked my bottom and sent me on my way. Just so you know, I never became a cowboy or ballerina but I did get big legs.

20 thoughts on “Career Path

  1. Haha, it went exactly the other way around in my family. Any hint of the desire to be either ordinary or a housewife was absolutely unacceptable. It’s taken me six decades to learn that ordinariness is not only considered desirable by most humans, but that extraordinariness is very far from celebrated until it goes safely away somewhere we don’t have to be afraid it’ll say “I told you so.” Cream might rise, but only to be skimmed off and flung at the cats.

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  2. I am sorry this was your experience. I too had a similar upbringing so I can share the pain of your younger self. I hope you go on to do amazing things with those beautiful legs of yours. Find something that brings you joy and peace. You are important. ✌️

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