“Mom, you haven’t taken a shower on a weekday in a long time.”
I was in the middle of getting ready P ready for school when I heard this. I stopped and turned to look at my son. “What?” I literally could not believe my ears. I was sure I’d heard it wrong, but no. He clarified a little, “I haven’t seen you take a shower on a school day in a long time.”
While it surprised me, I could see why he might think that. I explained that during the week I drop him off at school. Then I come home to shower before work because…well, I can’t get my act together that early in the day. Then I couldn’t stop laughing. I’ve been laughing about it all week. Now that I’d settled down enough to write without laughing (too much), it really had me thinking.
What if he never said anything to me and he grew into adulthood thinking I only showered on weekends? And more importantly, what other messages am I sending without knowing it?
I realized it’s not the first time it’s happened. A few months ago I asked P if he thought I read too much. Obviously it’s not possible to read too much, but I was curious to see what he thought. I work in a library full-time. I read. a lot. My husband and son tolerate the piles of books covering every piece of furniture. It was a rhetorical question. I thought.
“No. You never read.” Again, I couldn’t believe my ears. He added, “Except with me.” Okaaay…then I thought about it. I read when I can squeeze it in. I read while he showers, while he’s playing in another room, while I’m waiting to pick him up…and 90% of the time I’m reading on my phone or tablet. It probably seems like I’m always on Facebook or checking email. Of course I explained and since then have made reading a performance worthy of an Oscar.
And it’s still bothering me. What other unintended messages am I sending? Based on his visits to the break room at my job, he probably thinks we eat treats every day all day long. He admitted yesterday that he thinks I really like to wash dishes (because I do them all the time). And most likely he thinks I don’t have friends outside of work because (again) I get together with them during week days off or on lunch breaks.
Well, no time to worry about that now. I have to shower before I pick P up from school.
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Now you have me wondering what my children thought as we got ready for their school days. I’ll be interested in reminiscing with them of those hectic days making sure they didn’t miss the school bus.
I don’t remember thinking anything like that when I was a kid, but I’m sure I did. It’s a full-time job figuring out the world of adults!
LOL….Terra this made me smile. Makes me wonder what my kids are thinking. My mornings are so crazy too….and I can’t function properly without my two cups of coffee first…I’m sure Brooklyn wonders when she grows up if I she is gonna be a grump in the morning before she has had her coffee 😉
Nah, she’s probably thinking there’s NO WAY she’s going to be grumpy like mom when she grows up! LOL.