Confessions of a Misguided Mother - Part 1
I was an awful Mother....just ask my kids......They really
"put-up" with a lot. Wouldja like to be given some examples?? I need to begin by
explaining that I was the "usual" Mom who decided to make sure that her children
were given all the things that she missed....(sound familiar)? Example 2: They were raised listening to Folk Singers
such as Burl Ives and the Weavers. I loved to sing, as well. One of my favorites
to sing to them was: "Aunt Rhody" Some of the words to a delightful tune were:
"Go tell Aunt Rhody the old gray goose is dead. She died in the mill pond,
a-standing-on-her head. The goslings are crying because their Mammy's dead."
They hated that song! So much for literal kids! The other song I loved to sing was, "This Old Man" One
of the lines was "pit-pat-patti-rat, give the dog a bone, this old man came
marching home" I used to affectionately call Patty, "Patty-rat". Needless to
say, she hated that, as well. Example 3: Money was very scarce in those years. I loved
to read Dr. Seuss to them...accompanied by my gales of laughter. As it turned
out, I was always the only one who ever laughed at Dr. Seuss....The children
would just sit there, politely, and wait 'til "Mommy-had-her-fun" and then
request a book of their own choosing. To be continued next month....
Lets begin: Example 1: I was never read to, told stories, held or sung to....as
a child. I didn't realize that I was missing it until, as a young pregnant
woman, I visited my Scottish friend, Irene. She was holding her tiny daughter,
Melissa, on her knee, and rocking her while she sang to her, "Prissy Missy is no
good, Chop her up for Poody-wood"
Melissa would squeal with delight and it would be repeated over and over again.
Both Mother and child ended the warm, loving experience with hugs and kisses.
Soooooo, I gave birth to my twins, Patty and Bobby. I repeated the loving
performance I saw with Irene and Melissa...one twin at a time. It took quite a
bit of adapting to come up with "Patty Ratty"
and "Bobby Robby." However, I never received the expected squeals. Many years
later the children explained that they were frightened by the idea that I would
chop-them-up-for-poodie wood. So much for having bright kids.
The children were about 7 years old and I took a part-time job, while they were
at school, so I could afford to buy them good children's records and books as
well as taking them to our New York City ballets and shows. One of the records I
bought them was about a bull that would not fight (no, it was NOT Ferdinand, the
Bull ) It was narrated by Boris Karloff and set to the tune of The Toreador Song
from "Carmen" That was one of their favorite record and they played it
over-and-over again. After about year, I decided it would be fun to take them to
their first Opera, "Carmen"...because they were familiar with some of the music.
When it had ended, instead of the expected reply, they were really disappointed
because they kept waiting for the bull who would not fight and all they saw were
a bunch of people singing, very loudly. These are enough examples for now but I
ask you.....Do you think I will have to "go-to-hell-in-a-hand basket" for my
terrible mistakes???
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