When children get to be a certain age they need to get married. At least boys do because it is extremely difficult to buy gifts for them. When they are married you can at least buy something for their home.
I can’t ever think what to get my boys. It doesn’t get any easier at Christmas. However, I inadvertently got the perfect gift for Garret this year.
At our house, we have a system for birthdays. Someone in the family remembers the date, gets on the phone and calls parents and siblings to remind them to call the birthdayee. It has always been fail proof. However…the other day, I got a call from Garret.
“So, Mom, what did you do yesterday.”
“Well I have been working from eight to faint to get ready for a wedding, plus I had to work. Then I came home and did yard work, helped Ariana move and a litany of other thing. Why?”
“Well I can think of one thing you didn’t do.”
Suddenly I knew exactly what I didn’t do. “I forgot your birthday.”
“Yup NO ONE in the family remembered.”
I felt terrible. First because we all forgot, secondly for how bad we looked to Jenica, his girlfriend.
“Garret I am so sorry we forgot your birthday, but don’t you be forgetting mine!”
He laughed. “Actually it’s the best gift you ever gave me. Now I can give you guff about it for eternity.”
Eternity is a long time, especially when Garret is giving out the guff. I called all the kids and told them to call their brother. Then I reminded them that I was becoming a doddering old woman and they had a responsibility to take better care of my brain--once again my fabulous mothering instincts took over.
Why should I feel guilty for neglecting things mothers are supposed to have etched into their souls. I would rather pass the guilt on to them. After all, when you don't have wealth you have to leave them something.
9 comments:
Oh, dear. Well, you should be exempt from calling duties anyway. You brought him into this world, for Pete's sake. Doesn't that count for anything anymore?
Tell your kids to get with the program and instead of calling, use Facebook. Or start a Facebook private group for that purpose only. Or one of them can FB message the others.
'Cause you know, email has gone the way of the dinosaur.
Haha, actually to be fair, the year I "forgot" his birthday, I thought the 24th was the 23rd. It was terrible! Don't worry though Jane, I got ya covered this year!
Thanks for being forgetful. Now I don't feel so bad.
I am a fellow campaigner - just wanted to say HI and I'm looking forward to getting to know you.
I am also a campaigner and enjoyed your post. Now I can see I must read below about the wedding. With two girls of my own and a son who is already twenty five, this could be me sometime in the near future!
LOL! Again, just re-reading this post! So funny!!!
Hi, I'm a fellow campaigner. I look forward to reading your blogs.
Hi Jane Fellow campaigner here making my rounds. I laughed so hard I almost had a little accident...No not that one silly I sat too close to the edge of my chair as I laughed. Love your blog will visit often, so glad I found your space!
Hi! Fellow "Humor" campaigner here. I must say I agree with you--your other children deserve the scorn for the birthday flop :)
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