I’ve been trying to find an emoticon that equals “heavy sigh”. Yesterday was a wicked day for Will and Jenny. After some serious triage; administering Cheetos and fudge bars and a large dose of junk TV; I tucked them in their beds. I will be spending the day focusing on repairing the damage to their egos and reminding them that life is also very funny even when it pisses you off.
However, I must tell you that I do have further proof that I AM NOT a narcissist. I just got out of the shower and accidentally caught a full glimpse of my naked back side. Trust me. I would not do that on purpose. And this flash went through my head, “That must be what my grandpa saw when my grandma got out of the shower.” And immediately I was filled with love, sympathy and compassion for my grandpa. That’s real empathy. A narcissist can’t do that.
I am going to tend to my bruised children now. And I’m going to squeeze in 37 walks up the hill at the park, in an effort to erase that vision of my grandma’s back side. Is it too early for a shot?
Tags: all about me, humor, life, love, narcissism, narcissist behavior, narcissistic behavior, NPD, proactive, survive
And how about a little love, sympathy and compassion for your poor grandma, who knew what was back there even if she didn’t see it as clearly as your grandpa did? Take it from this grandma, it’s a disconcerting moment when you wake up one morning, still young in your mind, and look in the mirror at an old woman’s sags and bags. The boobs that were never big enough to droop are now truly drooping. What??!! And forget sleeveless tops in public. Sometimes you think what the hell?! Everybody else my age has arms like this too. But who wants to look at them? Certainly not the owner of the arms! It’s bad enough that your face has to hang out there for everyone to see. Even though you tell people the wrinkles came from laughing and crying so much with, or about, the ones you love, they’re still a betrayal of how you feel inside – young and still insecure, and just trying to make it through the day.
So you do those 37 walks up the hill, and when you finally realize the walks are doing more for your heart than your butt, we’ll all be here with coffee and biscotti and a hug or two. With our own saggy butts.
Pat,
I am laughing and crying. Jenny just asked, “Mom? Are you laughing or crying?” I don’t have the heart to tell her about this glimpse of what will certainly be her future, too.
Yeah, it’s pretty hard to think of our lovely children growing up to be wrinkled. I have one particular deep crease just below the left corner of my mouth. It used to be a sweet little dimple that my uncle (my dad’s next oldest brother) used to comment on. He’d tell me how cute it was. And now look at it. Ruined. I told that story in relation to one of Susan’s girls’ darling dimples. Susan wasn’t impressed. Go figure.
And now for a little compassion instead of the narcissistic moaning about saggy butts and boobs.
I think, with your help, your kids will grow to amazingly strong, resilient people. It’s like a golf swing or a swoosh down the ski hill. There are plenty of tearful and frustrating times until you master the art of the difficult. I know it’s quite different when it’s your dad, a person one would expect to be more like, well … a dad. But as long as you know the mogul is always going to be ready to catch you, and the sand trap will forever reach out to snag your perfectly shot ball, you become more aware of the pitfalls. You learn how to avoid them when possible, and how to handle your emotions when you can’t.
Easier said than done with children, but you’re teaching them.
and this is where I really wish I knew an emoticon for ‘heavy sigh’.
Don’t take this the wrong way, but I bet that you are beautiful — including your “naked back side.” In fact, I am sure that you are beautiful in every single way. And even some day, when you aren’t, you still will be. I am sure of it.
Phyllis,
How could I possibly take that the wrong way?! You are a dear. Are you still planning on celebrating on the 5th?
Well I’ve searched & searched, these are the only ones I can find for you…
Sarcastic :>
Raised Eye Brow /:) (in my opinion this is PERFECT for you)
Eye Rolling 8-|
Yawn (=|
and last but not least
Talk to the hand >:/
They are actually supposed to convert to the actual faces if you have the right program but I know I’ve seen them in texts too.
Phyllis,
You hit the nail on the head, Jesse is beautiful in EVERY way.
I LOVE the raised eye brow one. As you knew I would. Jen is mastering the raised eye brow. It’s a necessary tool in a girl’s tool box.
Thanks for the sweet words. (finger under nose.)
p.s. Is there an emoticon for ‘finger under nose’?
I’ll work on finding the finger under nose emoticon (just for you)
By the way…Of course Jen is mastering the raised eye brow, she is after all, your daughter.
It makes it real hard to beat her at a staring contest. /:)