01 August 2006

Always More

When I am teaching composition theory or running professional development workshops or teaching practica, I do a lot to get conversation going about what makes things work. The exact same activity can't always be transferred from one teacher to another, or one class to another, because the theory and practice and knowledge and assumptions that make things click in one place don't always correspond.

Turns out the same is true about family traditions. Sure, I can successfully pick up music recommended by Scrivener, or Liz (or Rob, at whose blog I lurk, and whose children have exquisite taste in music--see the sidebar). Our vacation soundtrack included several albums Liz and Scrivener suggested plus two we downloaded under the influence of Rob (one album by Justin Roberts and another by Lisa Loeb-Elizabeth Mitchell). I've had plenty of happy experiences trying out things I've seen on other people's blogs.

But.

I should have know that last kisses don't necessarily transfer well. Nonetheless, as I was saying good night to Curious Girl tonight, I said to her, "You know, tonight is your last night to get a kiss from a 43-year-old mama. Tomorrow, you'll get kisses from a 44-year old mama." She burst into tears and threw her arms tight, tight, tight around my neck. "NO!" she kept shrieking between sobs. What had she heard? "Tonight is your last night to get a kiss from mama." Nothing else. I laid down with her on the bed and tried to talk with her. She cried. And cried. "I don't understand why this is my last kiss, Mama," she finally said. "Always more kisses for you, CG, always more," I told her. Eventually, she laughed a little among the sobs and we got ourselves eventually distracted by wondering whether we could laugh enough to float to the ceiling (note to the clearly musical-theatre-impaired Scrivener: reference to Mary Poppins there, another one of those musical things with singing and dancing).

Curious Girl then got excited about the fact that we will match tomorrow, as I will be 44 and she will be 4. But then, she'd cry again, and say, "I don't want you to be a different number." And one time, it came out, "I don't want you to change." I helped her remember how I got kisses from her when she was three, and now that she's four, I can't have three year old kisses anymore. But, she told me, she'll have kisses for me when she's five, and six, and all the way up to a million.

I remember in my yearbooks, people would write, "Don't ever change." My sleepy girl seems to wish for that, too, but I like the way I'm changing. I like that I'll be divisible by 11 next year. I like the way I'm more patient. I like the way I am learning to listen better, to listen between the words or the sobs to figure out what CG needs (and wondering why something that seems so natural to me as a mother took me so many years in therapy to learn in adult relationships, although perhaps the therapy has improved the parenting). And I just like birthdays--mine and anyone else's. So my department can get on for a day with only virtual access to me, since I'm spending my first birthday, and second day as chair, out and about. And probably no one will notice, and I'll have fun. And lots of kisses for Curious Girl.

16 comments:

Anonymous said...

Happy birthday! And Curious Girl sounds like a very smart gal. Change is hard. I'm not a big fan.

And it is so hard to read between the lines of the sobs. Good work.

Anonymous said...

Happy Birthday, one day early, Susan! Many happy returns and may you always be so excited about change. Even if it is hard for CG sometimes. Someday she'll appreciate that in you (I am constantly amazed by my mom's ability to change).

Anonymous said...

Oh, CG is just soooo sweet! My heart was breaking for her when she thought it was her last kiss from mama, period!

Happy birthday!

Anonymous said...

Happy Birthday!

And so nice that you shared with us your last 43-year-old blog post ....

Anonymous said...

happy birthday!!

Anonymous said...

Hey! Many happy returns! Do you have fabulous plans?

Anonymous said...

Happy birthday!!!! What a touching birthday post. If you're going to be virtually accessible to the department, then I expect we'll get a full rundown of the day's activities at some point, right?

And I am familiar with Mary Poppins. That's the one with singing and stuff, and something about an umbrella, right? I've seen at least half of it.

Anonymous said...

Happy birthday, Susan! I'm sorry that CG had a similar teary response to the last kiss request :-( But glad to hear that you're taking the day to celebrate!

Anonymous said...

Happy Birthday, Susan. I totally heart Curious Girl

Anonymous said...

Happy birthday, Susan! Looking forward to your first 44-year-old blog post. :)

Anonymous said...

Happy Birthday, Susan!

Anonymous said...

Happy Birthday Susan! I hope your virtual brownies were delicious with the ice cream cake! If not, that daughter of yours is clearly delicious.

Anonymous said...

Happy Birthday!!!!!!

Anonymous said...

Happy birthday, just a few minutes late. I hope it was a good one!

Anonymous said...

Oh, happy birthday! Sweet little CG. And note to self, no last kisses!

Anonymous said...

Happy Birthday!

(We've had a few of those misunderstanding-fueled meltdowns ourselves here, lately. Methinks that Curious Girl is advanced for her age.)

Happy Birthday!