Our twelve year old rolled her eyes at me as I descended down the stair case on the way to my self imposed “Tacky Day.”
“You’re weird, Mom.”
I guess in that moment I had delusions of grandeur, and that was not the Scarlet O’Hara entrance for which I was hoping. But then our eight year old rushed to my side, with arms wide open declaring, “I think you so cool, Mom.”
Yes, that’s more like it.
I pondered their opposite reactions that day. What happened in the span of those four short years when “Cool” was so quickly replaced by “Weird?”
This exchange brought me back to my own tender teen years when people’s perceptions far outweighed the fun of spontaneity.
When the pull of conformity over ruled individuality.
When influence rooted group think and apathy, rather than bold steps towards innovative leadership.
Now as a grown woman, I look around at my peers, and realize that their response isn’t that much different than my eldest daughter. I’m considered “weird” by many.
A few years ago, I had a discussion with Josh McDowell about “the church” as it is today. As I shared my frustration regarding the difficulty in distinguishing the actions of the world from those in the church, and its apathy, he shared this fact….the remainder of this post is at (in)courage.
Balancing Beauty and Bedlam is the place I share my journey as a Family Manager. But every month, I have the privilege of sharing over at the blog (in)courage. Like my blog, it’s a place for all women to gather, but their primary mission is to encourage women in their Christian walk. So for my Sunday Moment, I’m declaring just how weird I am. 🙂
You seem normal to me but that’s not saying much coming from me. LOL! I hope to always be who I am because that’s who God made me to be and it’s much easier than trying to be something else.
Have a lovely day.
Kim
What an adorable picture of you and your daughter and I can totally relate. My 13 y.o. son thinks I’m weird when I start singing around the house. Yes, I know I sing off key but when I sing it means I’m in a good mood. On the other hand, my 10 y.o. twin boys have no problem when I sing and they think it’s funny when I change the words around in songs.
Forgot to mention that I was considered an individualist in high school because of the way I dressed. As a grown up I have certainly toned down that crazy look but so envious of how much more creative and funky kids can be today with their looks. Although I have conformed to fit in with my adult peers I still try to express my individuality in my accessories. But I haven’t completely conformed because I don’t carry Coach purses nor do I have a desire to read “Shades of Grey” like so many of my other mommy friends in my area. So I guess I’m still a bit weird. LOL
Jen – what a BEAUTIFUL post!!!! I am going to write a “what I desire” list in my journal. You are an inspiration to me and to many many women… and I hope that translates to my daughters and to the many many many daughters of the rest of your readers. Thanks for putting yourself “out there” in life and on the internet. I dream of a world where we are the normal ones 😉
I bet she secretly thinks you’re cool… it’s just that she had to share her teen outward expression.
My 15 year old son is contradictory all day long–one minute he says “ewwww” about dinner, and the next he said “let’s have what we had yesterday” which was “ewwww” a couple seconds ago. Then, there’s the obnoxious mouthiness contradicting against wanting to be tucked in at night with a backrub.
I love parenting teens! It’s a little like picking up something all slimy in the garden and you have to look hard to see what’s under the gunk. 🙂