Like daughter, like mother?

My daughter has recently begun to mock my vocabulary.

A friend of mine tells me, "We mock what we do not understand."

Hm. I thought that my daughter understood me, for the most part. Perhaps the problem is that she just doesn't understand why I like using big words. Or different words. Or something besides, "IDK, wut r u doin' 2day? Txt me! C u l8r!"

Sometimes I don't understand her, but I should get an "A" for trying! I've read Japanese manga books from back cover to front cover. I've tolerated Lady GaGa blaring from the tiny, tinny speakers of her iPod earbuds. I hit 384 garage sales the summer between her first and second grade, just because she had decided that all she was going to wear was dresses. And I've made myself a willing listener to her recount Who Knows How Many dramatic moments of her life. (That, my friends, is not easy to do. Let's face it, the girl can talk so quickly and so loudly that, at some point in the conversation, only dogs can hear her.)

Me? I normally just nod my head and smile wanly.

("wanly" is exactly the kind of word I use that H. would mock!)

It's not fair. I worked so hard in those early years of her life to teach her to speak. So that we could have mind-blowing discussions and giggle over 'girl stuff'. I know I'm good at teaching speech because The Family Dog and I can have a great, earnest conversation about things like our yard's rabbit population or the current state of world economics.

But talking to my teen-aged daughter?

Rut roh, Raggy.

I can't win. Oh, I've tried to speak 'at her level'. "Waz up, G? Are you chillin' with your gnomies?"

All that got me was a withering look and a huffy sigh.

Still, you can't blame a gal for trying!

I needed some help. So I went to my own mother for advice. Unfortunately, that turned into a rousing debate of Medicare Part Z and a heated discussion over the values of fresh, frozen or canned peas.

My head was spinning and as I got ready to leave, Mom asked, "Waz up, G? Are you chillin' with your gnomies?"

I felt oddly reassured. And reminded myself of how much I love both of those amazing women in my life.

My friends, sometimes the very people we share a home with are the hardest to get to know. I encourage you to take some time today and sit down with them and listen even if you only end up smiling wanly. It'll be worth it, I promise!

Thanks for reading!