My son's friend

[judy]

Mandy,

That's another thing. My daughter and I were very close, and as she was becoming a young woman, she was comfortable telling me certain stories I really didn't want to hear. I finally just started laughing and told her, "Honey, I love you, and I'm glad you're spreading your wings, but I am your mother and really can't know about (you can fill in the rest)." I told her she would understand when she had her own children and to just take my word for it.

If a bit of denial and delusion helps get us through the day, then go for it.

If my own mother had any idea about what I really did, I wouldn't be here typing!

[Mandy]

Judy ~ so true LOL... if our mom's knew everything
Many times, my brother, and myself talk about "those days" ... i know things about him, i would never in a million years share with my mom - and he knows everything about me, most of those things he will take to hes grave one day, unshared with anyone.

[katepoet]

My mother always listened to everything - poor thing!

[judy]

Did you ever think that she really wasn't listening at all? I've very often had an entire "conversation" with my students, and certain adults, where I could never tell you what they had been talking about. Just tuned them right out and said mmhmm in appropriate places.

[katepoet]

Unfortunately, she took it all in! Now that I am a parent, I know there are places I just don't want to go. But I do think my parents were going along with the parenting advice of the 60's. Hopefully, we've modified that into something that works better - social evolution.