Excuses

Lynn Gordon

"But Mom, you promised!"

"I know dear, but things don't always work out the way we planned."

After an extremely exhausting day at the office, the last thing I wanted to do right now was go swimming.

"But Mom, you promised!"

"I know, but I'm just too tired. Maybe we can go tomorrow instead."

"You never keep your promises."

"Yes I do. Sometimes it takes me awhile to keep them, but you know we will eventually go swimming."

"But you said we could go today."

"And when tomorrow is today, we will."

"Oh alright, but don't forget you promised."

"Don't worry dear, I won't"

As I settled down to relax for awhile, I marvelled at the general stupidity of mothers. Why we insist on teaching our children things like "you should never tell a lie," and "you should always keep your promises" is a mystery. We all know it will come back to haunt us eventually.

Perhaps we are all somewhat masochistic, and need to have the occasional guilt trip laid on us by our children when we don't live up to our own expectations. Whatever the reason, I would welcome a course in creatively "skirting the issue and confusing your children." Just think, when my children are grown and gone, I could quit my office job and run for politics. Maybe I could start an advice column for families, or write books on creative parenting, or...

I sighed as I suddenly realized, visions of grandeur aside, I still have ten years of excuses to go!

Copyright ©2001 Lynn Gordon. All Rights Reserved.

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July, 2001 Issue #63

256 Words

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