Parenthood

When my parents come to visit, as in these holidays, I get flashbacks of childhood. Like when I was a kid, my mother had pat answers and special quips she dished out over and over. One of my least favorites was "Because I said no." I remember thinking what an unfair reply that was to a request.

This is my memory of the process:

"Can I spend the night at Vicky's?"

"No."

"Why not?"

"Because I said no."

Why couldn't she give me a decent reason when turning down my requests? She treats me like a child! She never says that to other adults! Humph!! (sound of feet stomping, door slamming here) I vowed that when I became a parent, I would not repeat the motherizms I grew up with, particularly that one. I would provide reasonable explainations to MY children. Well, I now have children making ridiculous requests and have come to realize that my memory of the discourse between my mother and I was probably not complete. Perhaps it went more like this little chat I recently had with my daughter:

"Can I spend the night at Emily's?

"No."

"Why not?"

"Because it's a school night."

"But I can go to school with her tomorrow."

"No. You'll be up late."

"We'll go to bed early."

"No. You always stay up late with Emily."

"Why not? I promise we'll go to bed early!"

"No."

"Why not?"

"Because it's a school night."

"But what if we promise to go to bed early?"

"No."

"Why not?"

"BECAUSE I SAID NO!"

(sound of feet stomping, door slamming here, punctuated with a loud "It's not fair!" at the end)

Therein lies the Karma of parenthood.