Conversations with the girls

[pegkerr]

I had some lovely time with both girls today. I was in the kitchen at one point, cleaning up yet another load of dishes, and I thought to myself, Peg, you are an extraordinarily lucky woman.

I came home from work very tired and stressed out. Delia, who has been going through an amazing streak which is both high energy and extremely domestic, had cleaned up the downstairs. The table was set beautifully for tea, with candlesticks and good china and my grandmother's lace doilies. A pot of raspberry tea was ready and hot, and a plate of Girl Scout Thin Mint cookies set out (Delia's conciliatory offering in compensation for all of the expensive adhesive she's been burning through as she has started making her own soulcollage deck). We had a wonderful conversation about what's been going on in school, and she showed me the new soulcollage cards she made today. She's gotten as hooked on it as I have. She made a yoga card and a cooking card today, both quite good. It's so much fun to share this interest with her. The whole tea party was exactly what I needed to center myself after a hard day at work.

After dinner, Fiona and I got in the car to go to karate. I put my iPod in the dock, setting it on the wizard rock playlist on shuffle. The first song in alphabetical order on the entire list is "Don't Wanna Be a Deatheater" by The Brothers Black. Fiona's face lit up as the first notes started. "Oh, I love this song," she said. "I play it on my iPod on the bus all the time on the bus on the way home. Sometimes I sing along under my breath, and people look at me, like, What? What are you singing?"

"I know just what you mean," I said.

"The point of view is so hilarious," she went on. "He wants to quit, not because he hates being evil or anything, but just because it means he isn't getting any ass."

I cracked up. I'm not used to Fiona having such an earthy sense of humor. We sang along lustily together:

Don’t wanna be a Deatheater
Don’t wanna be a Deatheater
I come to find that I’ve changed my mind
I’m bored with the rule of the Dark Lord

When we started it was such a gas
The Dark Lord was kickin’ Mudblood ass
Black Robes and a sweet tattoo
And everybody lookin at you

yeah I may look cool to see
But everybody’s scared of me
And I’m going home alone again…

With Voldy gone we had to lie in wait
And I can tell you Azkaban ain’t great
I’d get so lonely I would reminisce
About getting a Dementor’s kiss

Don’t wanna be a Deatheater
Don’t wanna be a Deatheater
Now he’s back but it’s all the same
And Voldy’s needing someone to blame

Yeah I may be cool to see
But everybody’s scared of me
And why would you join a world
Where no one ever gets the girl
And I’m going home alone again…

I need a witch to scratch my itch
But Nocturne Alley bars are such a bitch
And Dark Spells don’t really work for love.
Maybe a potion could do its part
To put some color in the blackest heart
And make it shine like the brightest star above
For love

But what’s the use!

Narcissa plays the fool
But Lucius Malfoy’s such a tool
Yeah Bellatrix is hot
But she’s only shaking what she’s got
For Lord Voldemort
But he’s not the romantic sort
And I’m going home alone again
Again

Don’t wanna be
Don’t wanna be
I don’t wanna be a Deatheater

[Note: you can listen to the song for free, and buy it for $.99 at the link above.] "Play it again!" she cried when the song was over. We played it three times through by the time we'd arrived at the dojo.

Fiona's class was first. They had a lot of fun practicing takedowns. During my class, we worked on form. We were working in small groups, and I sometimes consulted Fiona, who was hanging out in the back of the class room, to get pointers on the picky details of folds and blocks. We were still talking animatedly about the mechanics of takedowns as we got our coats on to leave. "And we have to listen to The Brothers Black again on the way home," she said.

I laughed. "You know, I really like this. Not every mother can talk with her teenage daughter about a shared physical interest like this. I like the fact that I can share karate with you, and the wizard rock is just a bonus. I'm glad you're not a typical teenage girl who hates her mother yet."

"I might never reach that stage," Fiona said.

"I hope not," I said. "Don't feel like you have to be that way or anything."

"I won't." Fiona smiled seraphically. "That is, unless I really have to."

Comments

[hobbitbabe.livejournal.com]

I didn't get to be a parent until the kids were already half-grown, but I remember how great it was to get to these stages.

You're fortunate. And so am I.

[folk.livejournal.com]

...wow, that song is awesome. :D

[pegkerr.livejournal.com]

Did you actually listen to it? Because it's a fun, rocking tune, too.

[tassie-gal.livejournal.com]

I am 30 and cant remember I time I hated my mother.....your relationships with your girls sounds like wonderful friendships first and mother/daughter second - which is many ways is the best way to be.

[wordswoman.livejournal.com]

This made me smile. My daughters are both teens, and it's the loveliest time--quite the opposite of what people lead you to expect with all their dire warnings of, "Ohhh, just you wait until they're...TEENAGERS. That's when the trouble starts!"

Instead the teen years have brought me the company of two beautiful, bright, funny young women, and sometimes their equally charming friends. I have a few gray hairs, but my teens didn't cause them. It's just so much more fun than I ever expected.

[aeditimi.livejournal.com]

I had a conversation with my mom very similar to yours with Fiona after karate.

And you know what, I never reached the hating my mom stage.

[aome.livejournal.com]

What wonderful mother-daughter time! This is one of those (many) moments where all I can do is hope fervently that I do even a 10th as well with our girls as you do with yours.

[skg.livejournal.com]

Likewise! (though just one girl over here)