On the way in to Trader Joe's this afternoon, I kept a close hand on Oliver in the parking lot. He ripped his hand out of mine and said, Mom! I don't want any of my friends to see you holding my hand! I good- naturedly frowned and asked him whether he was embarrassed by me. He replied that I needed to look more cool, like, I should wear skinny jeans or something. Then he glanced up and told me well, at least your glasses are kind of cool. But just barely.
Reader, should I smack him?
You should not! But I am biased, I pretty much think Oliver can do no wrong - or at least that it can't be overcome by his adorable-ness.
ReplyDeleteNo - This is good !!!!! It means he loves you , he cares, really !!!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteIt's when they quietly behave that you worry. Seriously .
signed,
a recovering quiet good girl
Yup, but gently!
ReplyDeleteexcellent. No swats necessary.
ReplyDeleteI remember the boys telling me I was embarrassing them. I wold simply say "Then my work her is done becasue that is what I was put on earth to do."
And I think your glasses are way cool.
No, c'est normale. He is a growing boy, and they are so very different from us!
ReplyDeleteIt's certainly okay to WANT to smack him.
ReplyDeleteI have perspective on this situation and can tell you that in the not-so-distant future, he will reach for YOUR hand in public places.
It gets worse as they get older.
ReplyDeletexo
Oy! Here's the thing: if you did wear skinny jeans, he'd be just as self-conscious. It has everything to do with him and nothing to do with you.
ReplyDeleteThat said, my twelve-year-old knows that if she is embarrassed by me, I'm more likely to do more of whatever she hated. Turns out she'd rather endure the hand-holding than have me dance in front of her friends in retaliation. I figure I'm either giving her something to talk about in therapy one day or teaching her that self-consciousness is BS. Either way, I get to hold her hand ;-)
I don't have any hand holders anymore :(
ReplyDeleteI think Ms. Moon is right though ....
Oh, I remember that day, the first time her hand pulled out of mine. Now, all grown, she often loops her arm around my waist and I, mine around hers, we walk in tandem. Eventually they do indeed come back to it.
ReplyDeleteOh, no. No smacking, but a lesson in how to talk to women might be good. I'd say he could use some advice from the #1 woman in his life.
ReplyDeleteA light swat, just enough to move his hair. ;-)
ReplyDeleteIs embarrassment about one's parents a fairly recent thing? I do not recall being embarrassed by my parents. I don't recall any of my friends saying anything about it, either. But I know it goes on a lot now. Not worth a smack, though! No smacks for our beloved Oliver.
ReplyDeleteYou should tell him you already wore skinny jeans in the early 80s (at that time they were hugely popular here, at least, and it's kind of funny to see them back in again - I've lived through an entire fashion cycle! :)), and then moved on.
ReplyDeleteYour glasses are most excellent!
ReplyDeleteI think you should have picked him up and zerberted his stomach. Then the next time you try to hold his hand, he'll let you (remembering the alternative!).
ReplyDeleteMine is starting to keep his hands in his pockets now, all shoved down and serious.
Well, if you did want to smack him the comfortable jeans and eye glasses could come in handy. Hard to move quickly in those skinny jeans.
ReplyDeleteI can personally attest that ms. moon is right. they do reach for you hand in public places when they get older, if only to make sure you don't trip on the sidewalk. my two never bothered to be particularly embarrassed by us, though. i think they looked around and realized everyone's parents were equally mortifying. it's a law of nature. love that oliver. no smacks. just kiss his head.
ReplyDeleteI've had that too. Been told to drop them off around the corner. Now they think I'm cool! I'm sure there will be a turnaround for you too.
ReplyDelete