The less then glorious return
I'm going to try to be more diligent about writing here.
-looks around- heeey, the place got cozier! More comfortable, anyway.
So, the reason for this post is to say that today I realized how alien and non-relatable I seem to be to suburban moms. This is not to dis suburban moms or to make myself out to look special, but just as an observation.
Consider this: I live in a traditional, primarily Republican area.
I'm a designer - ALREADY a weird area. They really appreciate my skills, because I've volunteered for the yearbook, and I do like designing and illustrating and all that stuff, don't get me wrong. It's a mutually good thing, but I can see they are still a bit not sure how to talk to me. Like they feel I'm going to judge their dressing skills... Or something.
Secondly, I walk. I mean, I don't drive 5 blocks from my house to school, and that weirds them ALL out. It's a really safe area, I don't think 9 pm is that late of a time, but so far, every time after a 5th grade parent meeting, someone insists on taking me home. It's very sweet, and I just don't bother explaining that I like the non-polluting transportation mode, the little bit of exercise I get walking, and it's a nice weather, so why not? I mean, my kid walks to school every day, why not me?
I take care of my grandparents, and they (at least used to) take care of my son. It's a Russian thing. I mean, I'm sure it's not just a Russian thing, but it weirds Americans out. I can't say it's an easy thing to have my grandma CONSTANTLY calling on me, or my grandpa acting like a toddler, but it's what I need to do, so I do it. And I had people tell me, "Someone your age shouldn't have to go through it." Like, they feel bad for me. Which, again, is sweet, but I can FEEL the alienation. They like it, but just don't know what to do with me. Kinda. Where to file me. Especially since I don't view the whole thing as a crisis or tragedy.
Finally, I love my son, but my mentality is a bit different in how I express it. I just realized it today. The other parents seem to feel like this about their children: "I want them to have more than I had growing up." My feeling is this: "I want my kid to have enough in his childhood." I want him to have enough, not more. And it seems easy, but I get the "huh?" looks when I tell them I didn't do something for my son because I didn't think it was necessary. They are like, "Oh, times are tough, not everyone can afford it." And I'm like, "Oh, I can afford it, I just don't think he needs a cell phone." And it's a "huh?" look again.
Anyway. Maybe I'll subtly influence someone and they might walk more somewhere. Maybe they will stop buying quite so much crap for their kids. Maybe my existence won't make a bit of difference. But I don't think I'm changing my ways nor feeling guilty for being weird ^_^
-looks around- heeey, the place got cozier! More comfortable, anyway.
So, the reason for this post is to say that today I realized how alien and non-relatable I seem to be to suburban moms. This is not to dis suburban moms or to make myself out to look special, but just as an observation.
Consider this: I live in a traditional, primarily Republican area.
I'm a designer - ALREADY a weird area. They really appreciate my skills, because I've volunteered for the yearbook, and I do like designing and illustrating and all that stuff, don't get me wrong. It's a mutually good thing, but I can see they are still a bit not sure how to talk to me. Like they feel I'm going to judge their dressing skills... Or something.
Secondly, I walk. I mean, I don't drive 5 blocks from my house to school, and that weirds them ALL out. It's a really safe area, I don't think 9 pm is that late of a time, but so far, every time after a 5th grade parent meeting, someone insists on taking me home. It's very sweet, and I just don't bother explaining that I like the non-polluting transportation mode, the little bit of exercise I get walking, and it's a nice weather, so why not? I mean, my kid walks to school every day, why not me?
I take care of my grandparents, and they (at least used to) take care of my son. It's a Russian thing. I mean, I'm sure it's not just a Russian thing, but it weirds Americans out. I can't say it's an easy thing to have my grandma CONSTANTLY calling on me, or my grandpa acting like a toddler, but it's what I need to do, so I do it. And I had people tell me, "Someone your age shouldn't have to go through it." Like, they feel bad for me. Which, again, is sweet, but I can FEEL the alienation. They like it, but just don't know what to do with me. Kinda. Where to file me. Especially since I don't view the whole thing as a crisis or tragedy.
Finally, I love my son, but my mentality is a bit different in how I express it. I just realized it today. The other parents seem to feel like this about their children: "I want them to have more than I had growing up." My feeling is this: "I want my kid to have enough in his childhood." I want him to have enough, not more. And it seems easy, but I get the "huh?" looks when I tell them I didn't do something for my son because I didn't think it was necessary. They are like, "Oh, times are tough, not everyone can afford it." And I'm like, "Oh, I can afford it, I just don't think he needs a cell phone." And it's a "huh?" look again.
Anyway. Maybe I'll subtly influence someone and they might walk more somewhere. Maybe they will stop buying quite so much crap for their kids. Maybe my existence won't make a bit of difference. But I don't think I'm changing my ways nor feeling guilty for being weird ^_^