Of My Mouth Essay, Research Paper
IS THAT MY MOTHERS WORDS COMING OUT OF MY MOUTH
My favorite phrase during my teenage years was, ?When I
have children I won?t treat them like you treat me!? Now I am
sure every mother on earth has heard their daughters say these
words, but at the time I had put all the venom a 13 year old could
into those words . I was sure I had deeply wounded my mother
and this would send her screaming into the dark Carolina night. I
was so wrong. She didn?t turn a hair on her permed head. Could it
be she had heard these words before? Her single retort would
always be ?Wait until you have children of your own and you?ll see
what I have to put up with.? Little did I realize these words would
someday come back to haunt me and upset the serene picture I
had of myself.
Imagine my disbelief when my own daughter, Angie, and I
had our first serious argument. We were discussing her curfew and
when she was expected to be home. No excuses excepted! We
definitely had a difference of opinion and the air had suddenly
became tense with barely hidden animosity. Just as we both were
losing control, I heard my mothers words coming through loud and
clear. I looked around our kitchen thinking my mom was paying a
surprise visit and had helped herself to our argument. But sadly the
truth began to sink in.
I felt lightheaded with shock when I realized it was me saying
the words that had echoed around my mind since childhood. I
heard myself say, ?If you live in my house you?ll do as I say.? I had
even copied the tone of my moms voice. I had backslid to a dark
place that I had promised myself I would never visit. Visit? I had
taken out a lease and moved right in.
Suddenly a stranger thing was happening. My sainted (now)
mother was right. All the things I had heard her say was for my
own good! I had an epiphany right on the spot. Now I was really
going to let Angie have it. She needed to hear my words of
wisdom and learn to accept rules and restrictions as part of
everyday life. This pious attitude lasted for about 1 minute before
the absurdity of the situation set in.
I burst out laughing! The impact of my words had lost their
intended punch when I lost control. How could Angie take me
seriously when I couldn?t stop laughing? I truly wish my mother
could have been there in that kitchen to see what a little laughter
could accomplish. All the ill will had vanished and in its place was
disbelief and hilarity. Angie told me later she thought I had
snapped and was losing my mind. I had gone from a screaming
hissy fit to laughing my head off, in the best Broughton style,and it
was a scary thing to witness. She said she was tempted to slap me
like they do on television to bring me back but didn?t want to see
where that would lead. When I finally gained control of myself, I explained what I felt like when my mom had spoke to me like that.
She went on further to say, ?Mom , I don?t know what the big deal is
you?ve sounded like Grandma a million times.? Why didn?t she
just take a butcher knife and cut my heart out? I had been so blind
to my parenting skills that I didn?t even realize that I had already
became my mother. Life really is a big circle and everyone gets a
little dizzy when they realize it.
There is a popular saying in todays society, ?You are a
product of your environment.? This saying never seemed very
relevant until now. I am sure that someday Angie and her
children will share the same experiences that we had. I can only
hope that it to will result in laughter and good times as they watch
Angie turn into Pam.
PERSONAL ESSAY