How did you come up with that one?!

How would your mother describe you to a stranger?

That’s the theme of the week. I don’t normally do them but this one really got me thinking, and for a few hours, I had absolutely no idea. It made me think enough to try to answer it, though.

I have to devide it into two parts.

If my mom was describing me to a work colegue or something, just casually and socially, she would probably say something like this: "Oh my daughter is a good girl. We’re really proud of her. She works at a newspaper. Writes about science. She wasn’t sure about it at first, but I think she’s the right person in the right place for it. She lives with her boyfriend in Ramat Gan – no, no children yet. We’re not pushing them. They’re really just kids yet – that’s how 30 year olds are these days".

Buit if she was talking to a shrink or something (not that she really ever would – but someone that you’re supposed to be very honest and open with) I think it would sound a little different, something like: "She’s a really good girl. She’s smarter than both of us (they always say that even though it’s not true) but she kind of got lost on the way. Her job at the paper is great – but she really should have kept studying, got her PhD. But it’s never too late for that (It is too late). I did it when I was her age. She’ll do it someday…. In the meantime she does really interesting things for her job and outside of it, things we never thought of doing, although in her generation they aren’t unusual at all… I wonder, sometimes, with all she has going for her, why she isn’t happier than she seems to be. She seems kind of wary of people and situations, hurts easily and remembers hurt for a long time. I wish I knew what to do to make her more tough. But she seems to be in an ok place in life. With a good boyfriend (not that unemployed dirty smoker that used to hang out here) and a lot of friends. I hope things stay good for her and she looses some of that unrest she seems to hold in".

And if I had to decribe my mom, this is what I’d say:

The most awsomest woman in the world. I’m not the only one who thiks so – people are always saying it. How do you get all of those good qualities in one person? Nice, generous, optimistic, intelligent, interesting, energetic and fun? All of her co-workers and all the kids at the kindergarden she volounteers in – they all stand in line to spend time with her. My brother asked me one day: "Is it true that Mom has no flaws, or am I just imagining it". But no – it’s pretty much true. The only thing, i guess, is that she was never really pretty – not one of those sexy mamas your friends want to date. But that’s also a good thing – she showed me a model of a different kind of femininity – one that is happy and loved despite not being thin, young looking or covered with make-up.