My twelve year old girl stood in the laundry room doorway last night talking to me while I stood amongst the mountains of laundry, folding towels and flinging kids’ clothes, and mating husband socks (he is the only member of our house who gets the luxury of mated socks) and tried to remember to have patience with her.
I was on the verge of being fired because I hadn’t remembered too pick up something for her, and I should drop everything and take her to the store for it immediately!
Regardless that I was in my robe and it was 9:30 pm and by that late I am on auto pilot and practically sleepwalking…
‘But mom! The store is still open!’
‘I won’t have anything to eat for lunch tomorrow!’
Nevermind that I got groceries that day, including the same regular lunch food they’ve been eating all year and plenty for everyone.
She had ordered a cute little aqua blue Thermos on Amazon and wanted something hot to put in it.
Not just anything hot, I was full of suggestions for what was already in the pantry.
‘You can take some roasted red bell pepper tomato soup and a baggy of oyster crackers!’
‘Moooommmmm…’ Groans, juts out one hip, puts a hand on it and rolls her eyes at me.
‘I told you I wanted chicken flavor Top Ramen!’
( Amazon and Top Ramen are not my favorite right now)
‘And I forgot! You have to write it down for me!’
Anyway. As I stood my ground with her and listened to her frustration, I just couldn’t help but let my mind wander and feel a sense of nostalgia.
Because in my girl I saw myself.
That was me. In my mom’s laundry room door, the stance, the demands, the eye roll.
Too cool for tomato soup.
Total naivete to a mom’s lot.
She finished with ‘When I’m a mom if my kids need to go to the store, I will take them!’
And I’m pretty sure she took those words right outta my childhood.
All I could say was, ‘Ok sweetheart.’
And I can hardly wait for her to be standing in her laundry room while her very own Miss Royal Majesty Blond Pony Tail Girl repeats the process of a girl growing up.
It’s a beautiful thing.