Growing up is a normal, everyday thing that happens gradually.
You don't just wake up one morning, all finished - grown up.
You probably knew that already...
I sound like I'm going to go off into a long boring talk about growing up, but I'm not.
Trust me.
I'm not.
What I am going to do, is tell you something that I've noticed about myself lately.
It made me laugh when I realized I was doing this...
I remember when I was younger I would see some of the things grown-ups did - what they said, how they acted, how they talked to little kids, like me - and I would think to myself, "When I'm a grown-up, I won't do those silly things".
Like, for example, putting on a different voice when you talk to a child.
I always detested being talked down to.
Or how about when a child is talking to you, listening, but not really listening. Zoning out...thinking about other things, important things - like zucchini, or thumb tacks, and why leaves are green and not purple - when really the important thing is to listen to what they have to say.
But, the peculiar thing is, I find myself doing, and saying the things that I used to say I would never do.
I try not to talk down to children, simply because I really don't want to, and I think it's a bad habit to get into, but sometimes I catch myself doing it.
What really gets me, is when I catch myself saying, what I call "adult-isms"...actually, I just made that up, but that's what I call it now. It's official.
"Are you alright?"
"Be careful!"
"Don't do that, you might get hurt!"
"Look both ways before you cross the street."
"Stay right there. Don't go anywhere."
"Never spank your child on an empty stomach."
Oh, except for not that last one...sorry, that's from an old black and white movie...popped into my head just now...
Ahem, to continue...
Or, saying things during movies like, "That little boy isn't very nice", or "That wasn't a very smart thing to do!".
And when I stop and think about it, it just makes me laugh.
It seems that grown-ups just can't help it - it comes naturally. It's part of being an adult, and, someday, a parent.
And while I'm on the subject, when exactly do you become "grown-up"?
Have you ever wondered that?
Since we're always growing, it doesn't seem as if anyone is really "grown-up"...
Sure, there are adults, but some adults aren't what I would call "grown-up".
Maybe I'm not even as grown-up as I think I am... Hmm, I think I'll ponder that one...but later, not now.
Hmm...well, anyway, I was just cracking myself up thinking about all of the adult-isms I've acquired that I promised I'd never do.
However, one thing that I absolutely WILL NOT do, is take bare-bottom pictures of my babies.
I refuse.
It may seem cute at the time, but it's certainly not appreciated by the future generations!
Diaper pics? Yes.
Bare-bottoms? No!
Believe me, my children really will arise up and call me blessed because of my noble sacrifice!
There, now that that's off my chest...
Sorry if that bothered anyone, but, well, it had to be said. It's written down now, so I won't forget as I get sucked farther along in this strange malady called adulthood.
Happy Trails, y'all!
P.S. On a side note: I wonder why the voice in my head - you know, the one that's saying the words as I type them...wait, that sounded strange...oh, you know what I mean! Anyway, I wonder why it has a British accent? It generally has a British accent, but tonight is sounds like Hayley Mills. I think I've been watching too many movies with her in them...Pollyanna...That Darn Cat...Parent Trap. Hmm...
