Thursday, November 20, 2008

Karma or confusion?

Many many thanks to all of you who enjoyed my interview with the girls on Tuesday. Rhea is quite talented at asking the questions. And my girls are quite talented at creating pandemonium with said questions.

And then on Tuesday night. I got an email from my Aunt Elizabeth. About that interview. Because she doesn't believe in commenting:

AT LAST!

Just finished your interview with your adorable daughters and the flashback was instant...

You can't imagine how much they sound like you did at their age...

and I would think that your day would come and your unique take on life, your precociousness, your positivity about always being positive that you had all the answers would return to take revenge...

nothing at all is wrong with all that, but now you know why your Declarations and Proclamations almost always caused your Aunt (and every other adult who came under your dominion) to roll her eyes and wait for this day!

Keep blogging and I will keep reading and,maybe, just maybe, when I am a woman of leisure (Yeah, right), I will blog back.

To Katie and Maddie: Keep up the good work

To your Mom: At last! Payback time! hehehehe

Elizabeth

Well...I just don't know what she could possibly be referring to. No clue whatsoever.

It wasn't me that was so stubborn. So stubborn that I didn't sleep through the night until I was almost one. So stubborn that I would scream if anyone besides my mother tried to hold me. So stubborn that I could cry for five hours strait. Until someone would come and pick me up.

I mean. It wasn't me who would hold my breath when I didn't get my way. And then pass out. Knocking my head on the terazzo floor. And get a concussion. Twice.

It wasn't me that was such a good rule follower in pre-school. That I tried to police all my classmates. And inform my teachers that they were explaining things incorrectly.

It wasn't me that met practically every statement uttered in my direction with an "I knew that."

It wasn't me that kept up a such steady stream of chatter. Even if no one was listening. Even telling my grandmother that my mom was pregnant. Before my mom even had a chance to take a breath.

It wasn't me who was nicknamed "Rattlesnake" by the friends of my parents. I was never likened to a snake. With a sharp tongue. That is quick to strike. And always has a comeback. And the nickname was never prevalent enough to be put on a birthday cake.It wasn't me that was told by every single teacher I had in my first year of high school that I should join the debate team. Including my algebra teacher.

I just don't know what Aunt Elizabeth could possibly mean...

So...what about you? What were you like growing up? Do you see the same kinds of traits with your own kids? Has your aunt ever laughed and uttered the word "karma?

post signature

Theme song - John Lennon - Instant Karma. Though "Karma Chameleon" was tempting...

40 comments:

Rhea said...

I need to know more about the rattlesnake nickname. That's unique.

What was I like growing up? Good question. I think I need to ask family members and get their response. I was shy at some ages, totally not shy at others. I think I'm a contradiction.

I always read a TON. Books were essential.

Elena said...

Rattlesnake...I LOVE it. I'm totally stealing it to nickname my little Kate. Maybe it has something to do with your names. :) I was the bossy oldest sister, but very motherly. I can completely see myself in my oldest child. It's actually kind of fun to watch. And I think your young pictures look a LOT like Madelyn! So fun to see.

Firefly Mom said...

Hehe - I'd like to know more about the "Rattlesnake" nickname, too ;)

I garnered a reputation in my family as a rude child because if people asked me what I thought about something, I'd tell them. The truth. Which is typically NOT what people want when they ask your opinion ;)

My Choice said...

Karma.. yes I am feeling it with my son...so much like his mamma....

Hypnosis info on this blog... (tressa)

Swirl Girl said...

what delights me so much about my daughter (the 9 year old) is that she is EXACTLY like me! What scares me so much about my daughter (the 9 year old) is that she is exactly like me.

MsTypo said...

That rattlesnake thing is a blog waiting to happen!! :)

I remember being incredibly wonderful as a child. So when people tell me otherwise i'm sure they're talking about someone else. :p

Trish said...

Well, my family used to call me Mallory. As in Mallory from Family Ties. Whatever.

Now a days anytime I am up in arms w/ my eight year old know it all my dad says to me "you totally deserve him."

Whatever.

Unknown said...

Karma, yep I know that one. My little guy? Has my lovely Scottish temper :)
And the other one? Well since she's adopted I thought I'd get some slack. Apparently not, her speech therapist labeled her High Spirited. What.e.ver.
(But it so fits the insanity!)

cheatymoon said...

What a cool post concept. I love the interviews too, by the way.
Right now, I'd have to say that my 7th grade child is far away from what I was like at that age. I need to figure that out. :-)

Rebecca said...

Oh my, I have a similar daughter! I say she should become a lawyer since she loves to argue and have the last word. Her teachers would tell me she likes to "lead" the class.

I love the Rattlesnake nickname!

Unknown said...

In 3rd grade, back when there were black boards, my teacher would write your name on the board if you were doing something wrong (ie... oh say... chatting with your neighbor) and then you got a check for subsequent infractions...

Well... about 3 weeks into the year, the teacher decided it would just save her time each day if she didn't erase my name at night and just left it up there.

Gert's teacher has sent me several notes that katie is amazing and wonderful and VERY smart but needs to ZIP HER LIP.

I was HORRIBLE in the morning as a child. Not a morning person is a laughably inept description of how not a morning person I was. I'll say it... I was a BITCH.

Essie...yeah... she makes me look like Susie Morning Sunshine... she is... well... there just aren't words for what she's like in the mroning, but suffice it to say it's bad.

Yeah... they're my kids.....

Kathi Roach said...

My kids all have mixed traits of me and my hubby. My daughter has always been a challenging, exhausting kid....we are hoping she ends up with a kid just like her!!! Of course, the way fate works, she'll probably end up with the most easy going, agreeable kid!

S Club Mama said...

I was a know-it-all and a teacher's pet...not really by choice but just because I liked school, I was good at school, and I really enjoyed my teachers.

I don't see this yet. And I was a daddy's girl and my boy is totally a mama's boy (for now). Otherwise, I think he has my temper!

Tam said...

HMMM My Husband says the oldest must have my personality because he assures me that CHILD is nothing like him growing up. The Child is a Character. The Second Child...he stakes claim to 100 percent. The child is so shy. THE boys are so so different from each other.

As for me growing up....HMMM that is a hard one. I raised my parents is the way I like to describe it...they were young. nuff said there.

Joyce said...

I work with students on the middle school level. Reading about how you were as a child, and how you turned out just fine, will help me be more patient with a few little someones! :)

Kori said...

OH MY GRACIOUS ALIVE!

That first picture of you... Katie looks so much like you it is uncanny. Geez I guess I've never really noticed that before.

And this my friend is Hilarious.

I was sweet like sugar of course. But don't ask my Dad.

KimmyJ said...

I was a reader. I was the oldest of 4 and had to care for sibs as mom was a loser (for real) - grew up too fast, perfectionist, ultra sensative, resourcesful and stubborn!!

My kids have a lot of my traits, but have never been made responsible for their younger sibs, like I was - after all, they didn't choose to have the kids, right?

Mama Dawg said...

Yeah, my daughter is a regular mini-me. No sarcasm. She really is. My mom laughs about it all the time.

Unknown said...

My mom use to always tell me that when I had kids I would get the paybacks. You know what the say about paybacks, well that's so true. My daughter is just like me: stubborn, strong willed, hot headed, outspoken, tough, and sleep fighter. Good times!

Britt said...

Oh, this made me smile. Gotta love relatives that remember :o)

As a kid, I was shy, bossy, responsible, impatient, sarcastic .. much as I am now :o)

Brian and Staci said...

Don't ya hate that....when things come back to bite ya in the butt???!! How neat for Aunt Elizabeth to comment :)
Me...I was the good kid in school. (Really, I was...if my grandmother were alive, she would agree. I only tried to sneak out one time and it disappointed my grandparents sooo much, that I never tried anything again!) My last name was Lucas...I ALWAYS had to sit by Ellis Ledbetter and Steve Long in classes. These boys were not the most popular and one of them had some mental problems. I always felt sorry for them and tried to always be nice. Even when my good friends would tease me and call me their girlfriend. I would've been the girl...had you gotten in my face and tried to debate me...would've cried or something. Now, my boys, I do see some traits that are mine...Connor doesn't like to get in trouble...shuts down completely and doesn't like to talk about things....hmmmmm, yea, I feel the biting of the butt right now :( I'm sure my aunt has laughed and uttered the word karma...at some point. She is such a beautiful person, inside and out. Wish I got to see her more often. Maybe I'll suggest she blog :)

Beth said...

Nah. That couldn't have been you.

Hee hee.

What a great post! I will have to give some thought to that question.

Although, as I recall, I was perfect.

*ahem*

Jill said...

My 5 year old is all me... overly sensitive, has the gift of remembering useless information, and is shy. The 3 year old - we're still trying to figure her out! Spitting image of me as a child, but completely born a middle child.

Jo-Jo said...

I was loud and wanted a lot of attention...humm come to think about it...my kids are that as well.

jennifersusan said...

Great pictures! Do I know that blonde in the one of you blowing out your rattlesnake cake?
Of course I was sweet as can be, no trouble at all, never following any of my siblings around or cousins or doing anything annoying at all. Right?

Danyele Easterhaus said...

so....i was told i should be on the debate team too. mean teachers! ha. super fun post...but i'm a little scared how much we were alike as kids. i'm sure we've grown up soooo much since then.

Brandy said...

I always tease my sister that she's in trouble with her two. Just because it's payback for torturing us with her tattletelling and such.

She was a whiny kid.

Love the pictures!

Susie said...

I was very precocious and irreverent. I was always the first hand up with an answer or a provactive question in class. I liked to be the devil's advocate to everything and sometimes I was contrary just to be contrary. I have learned to harness that creative energy that got me into so much trouble all the time. I hope my girls do too because they are exactly like me.

jori-o said...

My daughter is a carbon copy of me. It's humbling and a little frustrating. Can't tell you how many times I turn to my husband with a "where did she get THAT??" look on my face and he just laughs. out. loud. inmyface.

Preston said...

My mother told me that when I was very little I would bang my head on the floor if I didn't get my way. I have no memory of that because I probably banged the memory right outta my head. LOL

Gina said...

I think I was always an adult. Always more at home in a room full of adults than a room of my peers.

My mom says "Gina started talking a half hour before she woke up, and stopped a half hour after she fell asleep."

Oh, and the PMS years were HORRIBLE!

Gina said...

And, my mom used to look at me and sigh and say, "I hope you have a daughter just like you when you grow up." Now she looks at my eldset and says, "And I thought he'd be a girl...But he is just like you."

Aubrey said...

Oh yes! Even though my daughter looks like me, she is just like my hubby. BUT, she is also like my middle sister. My sister always says she should have been her daughter!

Ummm, I think I was a perfect child. I can't figure out why my dad still calls me Sybil to this day.

Shannon said...

Oh, I do love me some Culture Club.


Ask me and I'd say I was a quiet, shy kid. Ask my younger bro & sis and I'm sure they would tell you I was an obnoxious know-it-all who thought she could boss them around.

ChicagoLady said...

I don't have kids, so I can't tell you what they're like. I was very talkative as a child, my report cards always said "...but talks too much." I even was sent to the counselor's office in 6th grade, for one hour, where I had to sit and do work and couldn't say one word. It was the longest hour of my life.

I also know I've been a picky eater my entire life. I've always known I wouldn't like something before I'd ever tasted it. As an adult, as my aunt and I have become more like mother and daughter, she confided in me that when I was a child, she was concerned for how I'd turn out. Then she follows it up with how proud of me she is.

I still like to talk, but I've figured out when it's a good time to shut up now. I'm still a picky eater, but I've become more open to trying new things. I still like to know what's in food before I try it, though.

MarciaBrady said...

I was talkative at home, but quiet at school. I was the "smart" one and my sister was the "popular" one. I was always afraid of getting into trouble, so I didn't dare do anything wrong!

My daughter is a lot like me. I was different from the other kids in school, so I got teased a lot. And, she's different too and, unfortunately gets teased a lot too. But, I just remind her that it's good to be yourself and don't ever let anyone tell you any different! We both love to dance and have the same sense of humor. My mother doesn't really think either of us is very funny, but we get it!

lynette355 said...

Hey there Rattlesnake. Love the name. Yes, one must be quick to stop the strike of a quick comeback, huh?

Karma? Well my college girl asked me to answer for her. (http://techiesdoitinthedark.blogspot.com/
Well she is an avid reader as I am. She thinks logically too, which we see many people do not do. Quiet and shy, yet I out grew mine by high school and she is just getting to that point in college. She learned how to be quiet as a child and listen in on the adults to see what is going on. I remember doing that. Hummmm, what else. ?? Can't complain. She is my blessing.

Nissa said...

I was an angel growing up, so no aunt would dare talk to me about karma. I have no idea where my kids got their attitudes from!


I like the old school pics! :) I wouldn't have believed about the 'Rattlesnake' cake if I hadn't seen it!

WheresMyAngels said...

That rattle snake nickname is so much better than the one my mom and sister gave me because of my name. Gaygay! My name is Gayla. Drove me nuts.

Teri said...

I was always advanced for my age. I preferred the company of my older friends or guys. I was often told that I was half guy (I think that was a compliment). I wasn't high maintenance at all. In fact I made a deliberate decision in high to buy some clothes that looked a little more like a girl. Geez.

My mom used to say that I should be a lawyer. She said I would be the kind that used a different tactic. I would distract the jury by bashing the other party because of their hair or bad shoes. Um, I think I will try that when I get out of law school.

Oh, and I think I can totally believe your Aunt Elizabeth. That stuff is hilarious. I was a rule enforcer, also. Go figure.