My creative juices aren’t flowing lately; I’m getting more of a drip. So I’m relying on other people’s juices for inspiration. That sounded kinda gross and inappropriate, but you know what I mean.
Today’s Tuesday Ten topic is “Ten things I love about my mom.” I decided to ask my kids this question, borrowing a page from the Sensible Moms, who had one of the funniest readings at the Baltimore Listen to Your Mother show. After you’ve read this, click over and read Mother’s Day Performance Review; Erin and Ellen posted it on their blog in honor of Mother’s Day. You won’t get the added bonus of watching their spot-on delivery in person, but trust me, it was awesome.
So…Matt, Gwen, James and I are at dinner on Sunday, celebrating both Mother’s Day and Matt’s birthday. I ask the children, “What do you love about me?” Then I pulled out my phone to take notes.
Cue the eye rolling. My kids are no dummies; they know when they are being asked to provide fodder for a post. But it was Mother’s Day, so they obliged.
It is with equal amounts of pride and exasperation that I present to you:
My kids’ words are in bold. My commentary (because I always have commentary) is in normal font.
1. You give good hugs.
2. You respect my boundaries most of the time.
3. You love me no matter what.
These first three came from Gwen. She’s much better at this kind of thing than her younger brother.
4. Everything except for when you stare.
This was from James. I tend to stare when I’m thinking, and it drives my kids nuts. I understand that it’s slightly annoying, but they act as if I’m shooting laser beams out of my eyeballs. I’m just zoning out, what’s the big deal?
It’s not like my eyes looked like this!
At this point I try to direct my line of inquiry. What actual, concrete thing do you love about me?
5. Your fat finger. Thank you, Gwen. For some odd reason, she finds my left ring finger endearing. After an idiotic injury a few years ago, the knuckle healed over scar tissue, so it’s chubbier than its partner on the right hand. Evidently chubby knuckles are lovable.
6. The crinkles by your eyes when you smile. Gwen again. This seems like a backhanded compliment, but I truly believe she means it in a positive way. After all, those crinkles are caused by years and years of smiling.
7. You let me take one of your makeup brushes. It’s every mother’s dream to be loved for her makeup brushes. Lame, but I’ll take it.
James is falling behind here, but after he eats his fried calamari he gets a burst of energy and adds a few of his own.
8. You drive me to practice.
9. You are strict but not super strict.
And then Gwen says the sweetest thing a female teenager could ever say to her mom:
10. You wear cute clothes.
I wisely end the conversation there. Because once you’ve been given that compliment by your adolescent daughter, what else is there?
If your teenage daughter thinks you wear cute clothes, you must be cool! Love it!
Ha – I personally think I’m very cool, but her validation was nice.;)
i think that’s the ultimate: “you love me no matter what.”
Absolutely. Although I think my kids know I love them unconditionally, it’s nice to hear them say it out loud.
You were very brave to ask the kids…it could have ended in good or bad tears very easily. I’m glad it didn’t! This was pretty inspiring though – my faves were the laugh lines and the clothes. High praise, indeed, complimenting your clothes.
I know – I hold onto those compliments like they are the most precious things in the world. Because they kinda are.
So cute and funny!
Thanks, Alaleister. Asking my kids questions usually gives me something good to work with!
LOVE IT!!! Gosh, I don’t think I will ever get the ‘cute clothes’ on my list. Unless my kids really adore sweat pants or yoga pants (dress up) or sweat shorts and tank tops… and gym shoes. Always gym shoes.
Not ever gonna happen.
I love that you did it this way Dana!!! Brilliant!!
Thanks, Chris. My daughter adores yoga pants, but I’m not sure she would call them cute…I get your point. 🙂
Yes! You have totally won if your daughter thinks your clothes are cute!
And I win even bigger if she returns the ones she borrows!
Oh my word, how sweet this is! I had to laugh at them loving your chubby finger though…my daughter always points out my crooked pinky!
Why do kids get a kick out of their parent’s flaws? And why do you and I both have abnormal fingers? Must be a sign of greatness!
I love this! Such cute answers! I am afraid to ask anyone to answer this about me…the answers would probably be frightening!
Yes, you do take a risk when you ask that question. I’m not sure I would recommend it! 🙂
LOVE IT! And the fact that she complimented you on your clothes is just the BEST! The stare part made me laugh out loud! My kids would totally say something like that, too!-Ashley
I can’t help it – I don’t even realize I’m staring until they yell at me. I wonder how often I do that in public and look like a nut…
You are a brave, brave woman to ask such a thing. But now I want to see what my kids have to say. That’ll be the “after school question” for today. Thanks!
And high fives on the wardrobe compliment. That is a rare and precious gift!
It certainly is. So what did your kids say? Inquiring minds want to know!
Awww! That would be nice if my teenager said that! I have a ways to go though until JR gets to that age. These are the moments I miss my step daughters. They are angels really. They live in Maryland. Much much older than JR. One is in college now but the sweetest girls ever. I wonder what they will say about you next year. 🙂
I’m in Maryland too – your stepdaughters seem lovely. But I’m not surprised – your husband is their dad. And next year…not sure if I want to ask again!
OMG, #5.
Yes, it’s wonderful to be loved for a fat finger, isn’t it?
Oh so adorable. If only my son will have such wonderful comments about me when he’s older. Right now he loves that I make him peanut butter waffle sandwiches and plan the best birthday parties. Ahh, my heart melts daily.
Those are great reasons – I’d love you if you made me pb waffle sandwiches too!
What a great idea! We asked our preschool school students what they love about their mom, and some of their answers were hilarious! Of course, they also said some very sweet things.
I met Erin and Ellen at BlogHer last summer, and they are great!
I remember getting those cards when my kids were in preschool – very funny and sweet. And I agree – love Erin and Ellen!
Apparently my clothes pass the test too, because my daughter steals them all the time. In fact, I don’t even know what I have anymore, because I think once she’s worn something enough times she assumes it’s hers and if it was new to begin with, I forgot I even had it. I think they did pretty good!
I think so too! And I got very sweet homemade cards, so it was a good day all around.
When I asked my 11 year old he said, “you are nice and you are a good cook”. I changed the subject before he could add anything else!
Smart move, Erica! The good cook thing never came up with my kids. I’m shocked.
Beware- your daughter is probably not far off from raiding your closet! I used to borrow my mom’s shoes all the time and since my feet especially “odorous”, I am not sure she appreciated the fact I was a teen and thought my mom’s shoes were cute enough to borrow!
She does borrow my shoes, and I’ve lost a few pieces of clothing that she has commandeered. I don’t mind sharing most of the time!
#10 is very noteworthy. VERY.
Cassidy asked Scarlet this very question and I can’t wait to publish her answer tomorrow, or at midnight tonight if you find yourself sleepless and dying to know what she said.
Midnight, no. 6:30 am over a cup of coffee? I’ll be there.
Love this! What a great keepsake for you to come back to down the road… 🙂 Such a great idea! I may have to borrow it, too… And I can’t wait to see you LTYM video- both for yours and the Sisterhood! Yay! I bet you rocked it…
I tried to rock it – we’ll see how the video is. The only photo of me at the podium is very unflattering (in mid-speak) – don’t think I’ll be sharing that one!
Yes, live off that #10 for awhile! I’m always pleased when teen girl asks to borrow a shirt. I’ll have to ask my kids to give me 10 reasons as Mother’s Day my son could only think of one reason – “hmmm….I like that she’s on Scary Mommy for trying to poison us with smoothies.” The conversation ended there. We obviously need a redo.
I read that one…at least he pays attention!
Amy, that is never going to die, is it? Time for more lemonade…
Awesome list! The fat finger one made me giggle.
It made me giggle too. Matt said he loved my right ear, but I wasn’t asking him. 😉
I love this so, so much! (And I also love how you often take a unique approach to the Tuesday Ten topics.) I would hold onto that #10 FOREVER!
Oh, I will Katie! Unfortunately for Gwen, most of my clothes are too short for her.
Strict but not super-strict is awesome!! And, I should probably take lessons in how to dress from you! I have a feeling that the way I dress, if I had an adolescent daughter, she wouldn’t let me walk with her in public!!
Lol – a perk to having boys, I guess! I’d have to walk out of the house in just my underwear for my son to notice what I was wearing.
I love Gwen’s final answer – seems like a WIN!!!
Glad James came up with a couple of things – kind of a fun little thing to do. I wonder if my boys could come up with 10?
I had to really push for ten. If you ask, let me know how they do!
I’m pleased your hugs made it in, after that incredible post 😀
Me too 🙂
Aw! Your chubby finger. I hadn’t noticed it when we’ve met before but now I’ll be staring at it. Just thought you should know that. Also #10 is HUGE. When I come home from work, Tucker always tells me to “get ready,” which means put on my uniform of shorts and a t-shirt. He doesn’t like my cute-ish clothes. Wonder what that says?
I’ll introduce you to my chubby finger – I don’t love it so much. And Tucker is clearly a boy who knows elastic waist pants are the bomb!
My ring finger on my right had is just like that! I fell when I was 11 years old and it never straightened out. It’s awesome to be so unique. Right?
It is awesome to be unique…I just wish it hadn’t been my ring finger. I had to get my rings resized to get them over the knuckle, but then they are loose. First world problems, I know.
I actually like smile lines too. People with them are usually nicer 🙂
Aww, that’s so true, Kate. I’m totally going with that.
Ok you have had me laughing from the start with the juices flowing thing. LOL I’m not sure I would be brave enough to ask my Kiddies…I love #2, 6 9 and 10! Respecting boundaries is definitely a skill and the fact that she notices it means your doing a great job at it skis not being super strict. I love that she loves your crinkles (and refrained from calling the wrinkles… 🙂 Finally, getting any sort of fashion compliment from a child is a score as far as I am concerned! Great List!
You caught the crinkle/wrinkle thing too, Tiffany? I loved that. I think from now on I am no longer using the w word. I’m sticking with crinkles!
Aw, this is beautiful, and I mean that. But now I am so disappointed I did not notice your fat finger when we met. I stare, too, and drive peopl crazy because I don’t hear them
calling me. My daughter does that now, and I was talking to an old college friend about it, and she said, “you do that!”
I think there may be a photo in the post I linked to – right after the injury. You’d have to look closely to notice now, but I did need to resize my wedding set. And you’re a starer too? Must be something awesome people do.
A wardrobe compliment from an adolescent girl!?!?! It doesn’t get any better than that! I love your list and the way you did it!! Thanks for linking up!
And we can’t share clothes – Gwen is a few inches taller than me. She does borrow shoes now and then, and we share scarves. It’s a little silly how happy that compliment made me!
I love #9….strict but not TOO strict. You must be doing something right, Mom! The whole list is very cute.
Thanks! I didn’t ask him to clarify the strictness answer – I figured it was better if I didn’t know.
Oh my gosh I dare not think what my kiddos would come up with! My son wrote in Valentine’s Day card they had to make in school for mother’s once: I love you because you take care of me when I am sick. I guess that’s not bad but he was 8 at a time… he is in the tween stage now… I am curios but do I dare ask him? And you picked a wise moment to stop!
If you do ask, do it after he’s eaten a wonderful meal you’ve prepared. I bet you’ll get good answers then!
Awwww, so sweet. I love the bonus commentary. And smile crinkles are beautiful!
I completely agree, Nicole. I’m crinkling right now 🙂
Yep #10 is awesome!!! Love that James got his burst of energy after calamari.
The three pieces of bread may have helped a little too!
This totally made me smile and really should have asked my own kids what they love about me. God only knows what my two would have come up with 🙂
Oh, give them ten years or so, Janine. You will have an excellent blog post when you ask that question!
Ha! I wanted to do this with my kids, but never found a good opportunity AND I was a title dared of what they would say. 🙂 My two youngest ones did give me a book they made – 12 pages of “You’re sweet because . . . . ” followed by pictures of cupcakes, lollipops, candy, cake, etc. It was, um, very sweet. So glad you linked up this week!
The book sounds wonderful – I know it can be easier to write down your feelings than saying them out loud. “Sweet” is one word I’ve never heard my kids use to describe me, though. Hmmmm.
I would just focus on #10! Ha ha ha. So this is what I have to look forward to with two boys? This is why my aunt loves me so much – she’s the mother of three sons who have the same “trouble” expressing their love.
Great post!!
My son isn’t as good with words, but he is very affectionate, so I do know how he feels. I imagine you would get some very interesting answers if you asked your boys…