February 5, 2012
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such a blond
Just had one of those conversations with the spawn. I think she must be taking a drawing class at school. Yes, I should know this for sure. I saw her sitting upstairs in front of the mirror drawing a few minutes ago. Then she came into my room of torture (the place where I attempt to concentrate on this boring crap I have to read- it’s not really boring- and I really do complain a lot don’t I?), with the self portrait. In a frustrated tone of voice (perpetual for her this past week), she said that she needs to work on this 30 more minutes and do I have any suggestions for what she could do. In spite of my gut reactions 1) really, you have a minimum time to spend on this piece of art? and 2) it rocks as it is- I proceeded to give her some suggestions. Then I looked at her face which was most definitely saying that she didn’t really want suggestions. So. Why did she ask? I mean, really, I have been her mother for 15 years and some. Was there some time in there that I didn’t give her help when she asked for it? I don’t think so.
In fact in 1st grade I got in trouble for helping her too much. Why she tattled on me, I do not know. The girl has had some issues with getting stuff done. (Another way she is completely UNLIKE her mother. Oh, she’s blond, did I say that yet?) And honestly, her 1st grade classroom was so busy with entertaining stuff to look at that I had trouble concentrating in there. Anyhow, so she brought schoolwork home one weekend. Lots of it. And 99.99% of it was coloring. Coloring!! Sorry to say, I don’t think of coloring as schoolwork. Don’t get me wrong, I love to color. We used to take coloring books on vacation and I would sit and color with my girlies. And I still have a wonderful historical women coloring book from when I was a teen. So, I have no problem with coloring. Except when it’s sent home as tardy schoolwork in vast quantities. So I did that thing I knew better than to do. I helped her color a page. And she told on me and her teacher reprimanded me. And I was embarrassed and suitably chastised and have never helped my children color their homework again. (And Littleloudone’s first grade homework was math and reading and spelling and real schoolwork, thank you very much.)
Anyhow. Spawn is irritated with me for doing what she asked. However, she let me take a photo of it anyhow.
It’s really good, isn’t it? (Even though my suggestions were valid. just saying.)
My best IRL friend, who also happens to be a blond, (all these freaking blonds in my life) thinks spawn needs someone to talk to and has volunteered for the job. I’m grateful, because my friend is cool, much younger than I am, and clearly generous- and what teenage girl doesn’t need someone to talk to. Anyhow. Spawn told her (friend) that she(spawn) believes that she (spawn) is maturing and I’m going the other way. Ladies. Thank you so much. I think they both miss giggling with me.
This would have been a lot funnier if I could actually remember the funny blond things that Spawn has said today.
Comments (29)
I see some talent…
@armnatmom - i know. she awes me. i couldn’t draw a face if you paid me.
Very awesome drawing!
I love it – especially the chin. Really cool!
OMYGOSH! She did an AMAZING job! Such talent! YAY for Spawn!
I love hearing about your beautiful kiddos! 
(I myself am a brunette with blonde ROOTS! AND I, too, am going backwards in maturity!
)
Two quick stories:
1. A friend of mine (a teacher who knew better) helped her 12 year old do a report that he’d slacked off on. In fact, she ended up doing most of the work the night before it was due. And then she was angry when he got the report back and it had gotten a grade of “C”. I laughed at her. She, of course, couldn’t complain to her son’s teacher without revealing that she (the mom) had done the report!
2. When my oldest was in JR high, we were sitting a the table talking. All of a sudden he said, “I knew this day was coming, I just didn’t think it would be so soon.” “What?” I asked him. He shook his head and said, “The roles have officially reversed. I’m now the parent/adult and you are the child.” I laughed and said, “So do you think if you tell me what to do, I’ll behave?” He shook his head and said, “Of course not!”
Teehee!
HUGS!
@AdamsWomanFell - love your stories!! (me too, brunette with blond roots). i laughed so hard at your friend’s (son’s) bad grade. hilarious. i have pulled that girl’s butt out of a sling more times than i can count.
i’m completely get chewed out for watching football now by the child who is mighty aggravated that she doesn’t live in a free country. (because you know that adults get to do WHATEVER they want.).
@gayXianmom - i love the eyes best. @ItsAll_A_LoveWar - thanks. she’s an awesome kid.
my brother told me once that if I was a girl I’d be a blonde because I’m such an airhead. Mimiko has black hair – now I’m confused
@runisom48 - airheads are more fun to play with. this is what i tell myself daily.
She has talent! It’s great Spawn has your friend to talk to. And I’m giggling at what she shared.
@songoftheheart - a year ago it was true. i’m much more serious now.
@promisesunshine - that’s why i play with myself?
@runisom48 - i’m just not going there at this moment. nope.
wow you bet she’s got talent. love hearing this, and i can just see her face as you’re going over some suggestions that you had to struggle to come up with for no reason, since your initial reaction was 1) and 2). : )
@be_the_rain - she has an expressive face. it’s not hard to tell what she’s thinking.
i got pretty lucky with that girl. (both of them, before you got all defensive on LLO
)
@promisesunshine - don’t start in on that baby, now. that kid’s got promise. and sunshine ha! they both are precious. r. is very artistically inclined. is she as quiet as she seems?
@be_the_rain - quiet?? ain’t nobody quiet in my house. especially when r thinks there needs to be a bonus mother in the house. that girl is some kind of bossy.
@promisesunshine - see, i didn’t get that from what you’ve said of her over time. bonus mother, LOL
@be_the_rain - see how nice i try to be?
the bonus mother service she provides must be why she thinks she’s more mature than me. and i love how she immediately goes to the tone of voice i use after i’ve said something 50 times. (probably the first time she’s heard it.)
but anyhow. i’m working hard right now, can’t you tell? incidentally she’s currently doing her homework too. we’re bonding with midnight homework. it’s going to be a GREAT week.
@promisesunshine - midnight homework, there’s nothing quite like it. you know, after all the noise of the day has dissipated. and it’s just you and the grown up r., working hard at your lessons for the week. yep. sounds nice.
@promisesunshine - but wait…you’re not doing homework at *all*. i see that you are distracting yourself once again, lol. because your light is on way too late to be working on homework. *chuckle*
@be_the_rain - except that we’ll both be cranky puddinheads all week because of it. and there’s the whole guilt of her getting more of my bad qualities.
we need to bond in the afternoon. all i’m saying.
@be_the_rain - yes. i have no self-restraint. zilch. zero. nada. bupkus. i think i’m playing hookie tomorrow again. maybe there are only 12 more weeks of this horrendous semester.
@promisesunshine - LOL hookie again tomorrow. i remember when i would do that in college, and i’d call my sister the one that’s gone now and she would actually encourage me to skip class and drive home to natchez and let’s go get spaghetti and meatballs at broccato’s in ferriday. encourage me, i tell you. glad i took her up on it, too. some good times were had. okay, now i’m getting silly. beddy bye time.
@be_the_rain - you’re making hooky sound like a good thing. because there are things not to be missed because of “real life” constraints. maybe i’ll see if i can go out to lunch with a friend while i’m home *sick*.
i skipped a lot of college classes when i wasn’t paying for ‘em. (slept through more of ‘em than that.) imagine that.
night, lea. me too.
I think she did a good job. I like the hair and shading on the face.
When I was a kid I liked to draw cartoons of superheros flying through the air and beating up crooks. I would show my cartoons to everybody, asking what they thought. Everybody praised them except an aunt, who gave me suggestions. So I quit showing my drawings to her.
@dsullivan - yes, I understand that. I don’t usually give suggestions, because I can’t draw for squat. but she did ask.
@promisesunshine - The point I was driving at was that I wasn’t really seeking advice; I was seeking praise.
@dsullivan - I got your point (even though your aunt did not). Aren’t we always seeking praise rather than advice? Oh, and make the praise believable and sincere and more than needed. The fragile ego.
LOL!!!