Tuesday, February 8, 2011

On Aging - Part 389

Young lady or old hag?

Around a larger discussion about "pretty girls," with my nine-year old son Oliver, he said to me,

You've seen better days, Mom.

I feigned indifference and asked him why he said that. He replied,

You just look a lot different than those pictures in the dining room. Your face was longer and more -- well -- different.

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22 comments:

  1. rebeccaFebruary 8, 2011 at 1:42 PM

    thanks.
    i needed humbling.

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  2. Ms. MoonFebruary 8, 2011 at 1:42 PM

    He's just practicing being snarky. And here's a secret- he will always think you are the most beautiful woman in the world.

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  3. Alicia DFebruary 8, 2011 at 2:13 PM

    oh kids. they always keep us so humble and grounded, dont they?!?!
    ps, you are gorgeous!

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  4. ElisabethFebruary 8, 2011 at 3:38 PM

    I agree with Ms Moon, children see their mother's as the most beautiful person in the world, but they test these impressions out. as mothers we are the blue print for beauty - at its illusory best - however much we fade.

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  5. UnknownFebruary 8, 2011 at 4:24 PM

    perfect.
    kids.

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  6. From the KitchenFebruary 8, 2011 at 5:18 PM

    My youngest son came home from his first day in first grade and described his teacher as "looks just like you, mom." When I walked into his classroom on parents' day, a stunning brunette of about 25 introduced herself to me as his teacher. Stefan is such a perceptive child!!!!! Now, am I supposed to see two faces in your picture? I've been staring at it so long that my husband has started cleaning up the kitchen!!
    P.S. Don't rush with your answer! = )

    Best,
    Bonnie

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  7. MelFebruary 8, 2011 at 6:10 PM

    Oh dear lord. I have a whole blog post sitting in draft about the things my kids have said to me like that, and how I've not been too proud of how I responded. Kids can be so humbling. I told my daughter that she doesn't have to say every little thought in her head, because some of them hurt people's feelings. The root of the problem is we aren't people, are we? We're moms. Hang in there mom, your kids will get old some day too.

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  8. SandraFebruary 8, 2011 at 6:32 PM

    He can be forgiven, he is nine. When I was perhaps 43 one of my horses broke my nose. My dear husband told me not to worry, my beauty queen days were behind me. Yes, he is still alive.

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  9. karioFebruary 8, 2011 at 6:37 PM

    I'll bet you can find some embarrassing photos of your teenage years (or awkward pre-teen years) to show him that might change his mind. I know I have some of my years in braces, headgear and painter pants that make me happy I don't look like that now.

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  10. erikaFebruary 8, 2011 at 8:46 PM

    Ah there is nothing quite like Oliver's mouth :) He is nine so he thinks 25-year olds are old and 30-year-olds are ancient. In ten years he will look at your present pictures and see how gorgeous you were at every stage of your life. I'm convinced you will still be beautiful at 75 :)

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  11. emmaFebruary 8, 2011 at 10:38 PM

    Ha! I just spluttered coffee on my keyboard:).

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  12. Eric FischerFebruary 8, 2011 at 11:38 PM

    growing old is easy - it's staying young that's hard.

    I disagree on the snarky part though- I remember saying it to my Mother, probably even at a later age, it's a kind of precocious honesty, with no ill intent.

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  13. A.SmithFebruary 8, 2011 at 11:50 PM

    I said it before and I will say it again: he is mine.

    He can call me a crone, a hag or an old lady and he will get ice cream anyway. I remember thinking when I was ten that I would never be twenty two, it seemed so old and far away. On my sixty fifth birthday I got the tattoo I always wanted and as soon as things calm down around here, I will get another filled with stars.

    I agree with Eric about aging but I have never felt it was hard for me to keep feeling I am still young. I am growing older, I am not growing up. That's all.

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  14. VardaFebruary 9, 2011 at 4:52 AM

    Oh, yeah, just last night 8 year old Ethan said asked me: "Mom, why do you look shorter and fatter to me these days." Um, because you've gotten taller and skinnier? Hmph!

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  15. Life As I Know ItFebruary 9, 2011 at 6:59 AM

    They're honest, aren't they?

    My son once asked me why I had lines on my forehead...

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  16. LeslieFebruary 9, 2011 at 9:15 AM

    that kid cracks me up. i've seen better days, too...

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  17. Tess KincaidFebruary 9, 2011 at 10:32 AM

    ((giggles)) I was thinking this same thing this morning in front of the mirror.

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  18. GbergerFebruary 9, 2011 at 8:25 PM

    You are beautiful. Simply, richly beautiful. A boy his age is not expected to see that in "a woman of a certain age."

    I saw the old lady in the thumbnail-size picture that pops up on my sidebar, but saw the young girl when I saw it here!

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  19. TheresaFebruary 9, 2011 at 9:54 PM

    When Sky was about 2 she looked at my face like she was studying me and said "when I gwo up, den I'll have winklez."

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  20. AnonymousFebruary 10, 2011 at 12:04 AM

    I've seen better days too.

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  21. Maggie MayFebruary 10, 2011 at 1:53 PM

    as my grandma used to say 'oh heaven's to betsy!'

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  22. Denise Emanuel ClemenFebruary 10, 2011 at 2:25 PM

    You are gorgeous. He knows it.

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