Pragmatist
Pragmatist

Some food for thought
Fri Jun 24 2005

Megan gave me a book of quotes on motherhood, 1000 Reasons You're The Perfect Mom. One quote in particular seems very significant:

"The mother-child relationship is paradoxical and, in a sense, tragic. It requires the most intense love on the mother's side, yet this very love must help the child grow away from the mother, and to become fully independent."
--Erich Fromm

And yet, we bemoan the empty nest syndrome. Paradoxical, indeed.

When Megan gave me this book, she said about 90% could apply to me, and as I read, I can see what she means. If she can see 90%, then I guess I did a pretty good job. Oh, yes, on the independent part, I did a mighty fine job! You've heard the expression "Independent as a Missouri mule"?

So. In future ramblings here, I'm going to share some of the quotes. One thousand? That'll give me plenty of meat for future subjects.

For today I'll share one more quote. Calvin Trillin's column used to appear in the Sacramento Bee. He hasn't been around for quite awhile, but I surely did enjoy his columns when they appeared. Here's his observation:

"The most remarkable thing about my mother is that for 30 years she served the family nothing but leftovers. The original meal has never been found."

There'll be some Erma Bombeck, too.

Shalom

7 Comments
  • From:
    Dreamerbooks2003 (Legacy)
    On:
    Fri Jun 24 2005
    That is funny about leftovers.. I cook for an army.. and sometimes one dish will last for a week. I make little frozen dinners and bring them out of lazy days
    :)
    Hugs
    peg
  • From:
    Welshamethyst (Legacy)
    On:
    Fri Jun 24 2005
    OMG, then I guess that makes his mother my grandmother because she was the leftover queen.

    Hugs
  • From:
    MissTick (Legacy)
    On:
    Fri Jun 24 2005
    I like the Fromm's quote. I think a lot of parents-children problem originate from this paradoxal need to love and let go...Not many are capable of this...
    Bring in more quotes.
  • From:
    Welshamethyst (Legacy)
    On:
    Fri Jun 24 2005
    RYC: not a free meal as we are meeting them at a restaurant so I have to pay to be bored to tears for 2 hours *bangs head*
  • From:
    Welshamethyst (Legacy)
    On:
    Fri Jun 24 2005
    Several years ago my former boss was telling me that his son, who was about to leave for college, had developed a bit of an attitude. That attitude didn't have a thing to do with him being a bad kid, it had to do with the letting go process. If he hardened himself he wouldn't have such a hard time leaving the nest for college. Once he got there and adapted that attitude went away as quickly as it appeared.

    It isn't all about the parents letting go. The kids need to do the same thing and all of them react differently.

    Hugs
  • From:
    Sezrah (Legacy)
    On:
    Mon Jun 27 2005
    that sounds like a very cool gift, you must have done an excellent job if you're getting a thousand different reasons why you're a perfect mom :)
  • From:
    Fairywishes (Legacy)
    On:
    Mon Jun 27 2005
    A very interesting quote from Fromm, I never thought of it like that and definitely tragic.