Listen to me when I'm talking to you

They don't take me seriously.

Or at least it doesn't seem like they do.

I say stuff all the time and they look at me with question marks on their faces as if to say,  "You can't expect us to take you seriously when you say stuff like that."

Stuff like:

"Just because you can, doesn't mean you should."

"The issue is never the issue."

"I am the boss of you."

"Because I'm The Mom, that's why."

"I took a vow."

"I know you better than you know yourself."

"Just trust me now. You'll believe me when you get to be my age."

"I've been bitten by that dog before."  (this particular favorite is translated from the Spanish and was used on me by my own Cuban mother.)

(did you notice how I subliminally inserted the "because I am The Mom" in bold? It's like hiding vegetables in casseroles.  Old mom habits are hard to break.)

So I say one of my "mom-isms" and they just stare and blink at me. And I think everything I've said goes in one ear and out the other. And I just know they are not taking me seriously.  And I start questioning my ability to parent . . . [heavy sigh]

Until....

I hear Adam giving advice to his friend, "You know, just because you can, doesn't mean you should."

Or Amy on the phone, "Well, you know, the issue is never the issue."

Or Lucy explaining to her friend, "I think I'll let my mom decide because she really knows me better than I know myself."

Or Jonathan saying, "No way! I've been bitten by that dog before!"

Shut. Up.

They heard me.

I'm not going to let on that I know.  In fact, I think the decent thing to do is to let them continue to deceive me and just let them sound smart and clever to their friends.  (wink, wink)

This is for all you moms who feel the very same way:
(Thanks, Lizz!)