|
I sent you flowers for Mother's Day. I send you flowers for Mother's Day every year. Did you ever wonder why I always send them to your office? You probably think it's because the florist won't deliver them to your house in the sticks.
It's not.
It's because I know it will put a feather in your cap. You can show everyone at work how much your son loves you.
That's also the reason I always give you two presents on Christmas, one for Christmas, and one for your unfortunately timed birthday. One of them is always jewelry. I'll bet you think I give you jewelry because I know you like to collect it. After all, you do have a whole dresser hutch full of gold and silver.
But it's not.
It's because I know it will put a feather in your cap. You can show everyone at church how much your son loves you.
You see, I finally figured it out.
When you ask when I'll have those grandchildren you're looking for, it's because you want someone in your family to brag about.
When you ask how much I make at my new job, even though "we never talk about money, it's rude," it's because you want to tell others how successful your son is.
When you ask if I'll go with you to church, it's because you feel guilty that other mothers in the church have their children there with them.
When you criticize every decision I tell you about, it's because you don't see how those decisions will reflect kindly on you from the POV of those in your social circle.
The opinions of everyone else in town matter to you a great deal. You put more stock in those opinions than you do anything else I've ever known you to care about, which is, quite frankly, a short list.
And so I send you flowers at work, and buy you expensive jewelry to wear in front of your friends.
Because I'll never be a feather in your cap.
And maybe one day, you'll accept that...
|