Going… Going …
“What do you think I should put up today?” the son asked us one evening. The daughter was home for the Thanksgiving break too, and we were making more noise than was necessary while snacking and exchanging the news of the day.
“How about this? Going …. Going …. “ I held up my phone, showing him some of my pictures of fall colors on the phone. When had he become this much taller than me? The beautiful fall colors glistened and sparkled, and I could feel my nerves dancing with the rays of the sun shining through them.
“Amma! That’s – there’s no need to be all poetic and cringe.”
“What’s cringe about that? The fall colors are going…going… but not yet gone. Huh?! Get it? Not yet gone!”
Scales of Cringe
He rolled his eyes. I swear his eyes roll more when his sister is around. I have statistical evidence.
There are categories of social media posts apparently. They fall in scales of cringe, try-hards, to meh. One child who wished her father a happy birthday was in the try-hard category. I found that unfair. “Come on! So sweet of the child to wish her father. You know? That reminds me – where’s my post wishing me on my birthday huh?”
The pair of them exchanged looks that suggested I’d lost it, and giggled some more.
“So what if you have a few posts on the scale of 6-7?” I said, looking as smug as it was possible for me to look, while attempting the cool, nonchalant look.
“On my goodness! Did you just? I can’t – okay! That’s going to be my post. My mom just made a 6-7 joke!” he said clutching his stomach and laughing.
My Mom!
I narrowed my eyes at the fellow. “There’s no need to say ‘my mom!’ in that tone of voice.”
He laughed some more, and the daughter ruffled his hair, looking proud.
“I am not sure I appreciate this your-mom thing being used as an insult.”
“I know your mom wouldn’t either!” the daughter said, cackling some more, and joining in.
I huffed and I puffed and drew myself to new heights.
The daughter patted me patronizingly on the head, and said, “Now now Mother! There is no need to be all small and mighty!”
I gave up. Newly minted high-schoolers and newly minted adults having ice creams with chocolate chips and melted brownies crushed up in them, cannot be expected to be sane. My mom would agree.
Nourish-n-Cherish 