Too Much Mothering

She called to talk about Jason.  It wasn't the first time she would call and it wouldn't be the last.  At the time I was aggravated at my son's sixth grade teacher's parenting suggestions, and I didn't understand what she meant by "too much mothering."   What? Me? Mother Jason too much?  No way! Not possible!  Nope!  So, instead of telling her what I really thought about her unsolicited intrusion into Jason's and my life, I lied and told her I would consider her recommendations.  Then I hung up the phone and did Jason's homework.

When I was in my twenties, my doctor told me I'd never be able to have children, so when I discovered I was pregnant at thirty-four, I was ambivalent.  I had always wanted children, but my life, at the moment, wasn't suited for that responsibility.  Not everyone was happy about me being with child, especially my OBGYN who said, "WHAT?  You're too old to have children!!"  So, what's a pregnant old lady to do?  I had the baby, that's what.

I didn't think I was capable of loving another human being as much as I loved my newborn son.  My parenting strategy was simple.  I would raise my boy with equal doses of love and discipline.  When other parents were having difficulties with their obstreperous little brats, I would smile and walk right past them with my obedient child in tow.  I'd have him right where I wanted him, under my control, and  there would be no doubt in my smart little boy's mind who was the boss.

Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha ha ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha

Okay, it's not that funny!  I'll admit it;  I might have been a bit naive about child rearing.  In retrospect, I realize that there could possibly be more to raising children than hugs and kisses and time outs.  But when I asked Jason recently what he thought of his upbringing, he told me it was great and he wouldn't have changed a thing.  Whenever we went out, he said, and when he saw other children having problems with their difficult parents, he would smile and walk right past them with his obedient mother in tow.  He had me right where he wanted me, under his control.  Have I mentioned that my son is really, really smart? He gets that from his dad.