Some things said are not to be forgotten:
“Mommy, make your next book not about Zen. The whole idea of Zen is bogus.”
Pause here before you rush in to soothe my bruise; to bolster my case. There is no purer truth than what she uttered here. No finer precision, nothing clearer. If only I could do it, really do it, then I would earn my place as the dimwit ancestor of the wisest, choicest, sassy ass eight-year-old Master of the Milky Way.
You go, girl! Show me the back door straight out of bogus, as you always do. Truth is more beautiful than beauty treatments.
***
This is Not to Be Forgotten Week on the Road, where we share Some Things Said.
Leave it to a daughter to let you know where you really stand. My son never commented on my parenting skills when growing up, but my daughter sure let me know where I was lacking:)
Comment by bookbabie — February 6, 2008 @ 5:29 pm
Smart kid. I’m 27 and I still give my Mom crap about the things she does. With the utmost respect, of course.
Comment by Someone Being Me — February 6, 2008 @ 5:46 pm
The book I’ve been meaning to write is a book about Zen that’s not about Zen. I think only a fellow Zennie (or the clear-eyed daughter of a Zennie) would “get” that. 🙂
Comment by Lorianne — February 6, 2008 @ 5:49 pm
My son, who divides his time between my house and his father’s, told me last night in no uncertain terms that he liked being at his father’s much better. After telling me how they’re always doing things over there, and all we do is “stand around”, and how boring my house is.. he later added “I feel lonely because I can hear my brain working it’s so quiet here.” Ouch. Glad he can be honest.
Comment by Sandra — February 6, 2008 @ 6:31 pm
there’s nothing quite like the feeling that your kid has you pegged, and with that she has pegged the entire existence of our human race. she’s post-modern, anti-zen/zen child extraordinnaire.
and i was just starting to really dig all this zen stuff.
h.
Comment by Holly Lash — February 7, 2008 @ 12:39 am
I was so smart when I was a kid too. I don’t know what happened to me.
Comment by Shelli — February 7, 2008 @ 2:48 am
Wow, a talking kid. A whole new world…
Comment by Mika — February 7, 2008 @ 2:55 am
bogus…i love that G uses the word bogus.
may i share 2 things said but not forgotten?
1. don’t worry, mama, don’t worry.
(uttered frequently whenever he sees i’m at my wits end – i have one of those faces that can’t hide a thing…i would suck at poker)
2. i make mama nervous.
(uttered as he was sitting on the edge of the slippery tub)
i wonder if i should have named him “Yoda”.
Comment by Wendy — February 7, 2008 @ 11:55 am
How perfect. You are most fortunate indeed.
Struggling along with my idea of Zen,
–Chris
Comment by Chris Austin-Lane — February 7, 2008 @ 12:19 pm
I, too, struggle with my idea of Zen. What G said actually makes things a little clearer; honesty from children is such a pure thing.
Comment by Lisa — February 7, 2008 @ 1:44 pm
Wow.
She just knocks my socks off.
the refusal to make things more complicated and speak ones simple truth, what a role model.
Leo tells me the other day, “Mommy, when you you say you are watching me you need to really look at me” Ouch.
I’m loving these words to not forget.
Comment by bella — February 7, 2008 @ 5:57 pm
Bella, my son if I absently say, “Yes” when he asks “Look at me!” will come over, place his hands on my cheeks, and say, “No, look at me.” (with a very gentle tone and a very gentle pressure to move my head.”
–Chris
Comment by Chris Austin-Lane — February 7, 2008 @ 7:06 pm
i love it. how simple. bogus.
totally man.
Comment by Stella — February 22, 2008 @ 6:30 pm