Friday, February 8, 2008

Save it, kid. For therapy.

I'm back in the land of the functioning, though I haven't yet made it to clear-headedness yet. Still some fog between the ears. Thanks for all your nice notes. So early last week, while I was lying on the sofa completely viral and miserable, my oldest daughter (Thing 1) comes over to me. She looks around at the hurricane-like devastation caused by mom being sick for a week or so, and says, "When I grow up I'm going to keep my house very, very neat." I rolled my eyes and said, "Well, good for you. Now why don't you help out by picking up some of this mess!" But I really, really wish I'd had one of these to give her.

I could have added, "This will help you on your road to recovering from growing up in a loving but less than perfectly tidy home!"
Teens. Can't live with 'em, can't legally murder them. Anyway, I really love these banks. They're available at fredflare.

15 comments:

Doralong said...

And can't sell 'em either..

I feel your pain- same scenario here. My comment was, "Well, you're not ill and trying to work too dear so get off your happy butt and do something about it if it's not to your satisfaction." *chirp, chirp*

sageweb said...

Well, I am glad to see your feeling better. I needed that piggy bank when I was a kid...oh I use to wear a similar outfit to school so it would have been a fitting bank for me.

If you need me to swing by and get your house back in order, I can do.....I can also show your kids how I was raised and how they should appreciate dis-order. A week with me would drive them bonkers. But they sure would appreciate Mommy a whole lot more. Okay off to organize my sock drawer.

Susan said...

Wow, I need to get one of those!

Glad you're feeling better.

yellowdoggranny said...

welcome back to the land of the well...so far..i have kept everyone at a far distance so i don't catch the flu that is going around...i like the bank...my yankee girlfriend shady lane would love it..

Elizabeth said...

Doralong: Sell 'em, hmmm.... Nope. You're right. Hope you're feeling better soon too.

Sageweb: Oooh! Wish I could take you up on that! My husband grew up in a home similar to yours. Which was one reason he chose to marry a domestically relaxed person like me.

You should put a pic on your blog of you as a kidlet, all dolled up in party clothes. I will if you will!

Elizabeth said...

Susan: They're great, aren't they?

Granny: Glad you've avoided the flu/plague so far!

sageweb said...

I love the domestically relaxed person...that is brilliant. I wish I could be one...but no relaxing for me if somethings is out of order.

I would have to look for any dolled up pics of me. I am limited with my picture availability. I am visiting my mom next week maybe I will see if she will let loose of some. Boy that was horrible grammar.

Willym said...

Sorry it took so long to say "please get well" but I've been laid low, as the actress said to the archbishop, myself.

I'm still mulling over that Rent A Mom thing I talked about over at Cowbell. You know the Mom who comes over and does Mom things when Mom is sick. Based on what I've seen the past few weeks it could be a money maker!

Glad you're feeling better and just as a matter of interest: did she actually take the hint and clean up some of the mess?

Elizabeth said...

Sage: I'll poke around and see if I can find any especially silly, dolled-up pix of me.

Will: Glad that you, too, are reentering the land of the living. What a winter it's been! yech. Come on Spring!

Rent-a-mom could be huge! A nice woman to come over, tidy up, make a big pot of soup. I could imagine giving it as a treat to a friend who's sick or going through a rough time.... Too bad I'm not more entrepreneurial!

The kidlet actually did do some tidying. Despite the thick crust of self-absorbed teen covering her, there's still a nougaty center of sweetness hiding in there.

more cowbell said...

Don't get too excited about the entrepreneurial aspect -- if I remember correctly, Willym also pointed out that in true Mom tradition, the rent.a.moms probabaly wouldn't get paid beans, ha!

My kids say the opposite -- in response to being asked to clean, it's, "when I grow up, I'm only going to clean when I feel like it, and I won't care how messy my house gets."

Which has pretty much been my MO the last few weeks, come to think of it.

Elizabeth said...

yeah, I was thinking about that too. The thing about "mom" (in theory, anyway) is that, you don't have to feel guilty when she's doing for you; it's all for love, not money. Which makes no real sense. I mean, if I was getting paid automatically every time I picked up mess, my house would be A LOT tidier! But, yes, rent-a-mom would not be guilt free, so not mom-like enough for most women.

evilganome said...

Oh God! Teenagers. I swear the child took years off my life when she was that age.

It's amazing what happens once they get a place of their own. Mine turned from the human disaster area to Miss Neat Freak. I think that has gone to the wayside now that she's dealing with her won kids.

Glad to hear you are feeling better.

Elizabeth said...

eg:It's good to be reminded that teenage-hood passes!

D-Man said...

Ah, must get one for the neiceling. Although it has been established that her repeated viewing of drag queen movies won't necessitate hours of therapy, I'm sure we'll give plenty of other opportunities...

Elizabeth said...

I think repeated viewing of drag queen movies can only be good for the teen soul. It lets the teen know that, 1. A good dress can make anyone look HOT! and 2. A snappy sense of humor can go a long way in bridging differences. In fact, I think I need to get my girls started on "Priscilla, Queen of the Desert," and "La Cage," ASAP!