You know how stay at home moms long for adult conversation? After long days of little kid talk, they just need to spill what's been sloshing around in their mind all day. Though their personal space has been invaded all day long, they feel lonely.Lately, I understand this feeling more and more. You see, I too long for adult conversation. You know, logical, rational, respectful, polite interchanges. Speech in which one does not shamelessly, miserably lie to one while looking one directly in the eye and smiling. Where one syllable really is just one syllable as opposed to a whine-ish extension (a la "Shut u-up"). Conversation without the monosyllabic grunt or the under-the-breath degradation, or the text messaging acronym ("IDK" must die, but I digress). Communication sans the defensive, the false cockiness, the hidden insecurity. In a language I can understand--no hidden meanings behind "let's dig", no "MO-ted" (is this even a word?). Oh, how I long for adult conversation.
I realized recently that other people go to work and, when not in the (angry) customer service field, receive this dignified treatment I oh-so-desire. Sometimes, my only sense of sweet revenge is the mere fact that one day these same adolescents will be adults annoyed by adolescents, hopefully their adolescent children. And hopefully I don't teach them too.
And mother's, not to slight your most noble and difficult position in any way, but count your blessings. It could be worse. They could be teenagers.
5 comments:
Yes, Well said..Some days I think that your life could be a very nice enjoyable life, and other days when you post like today, I realize we aren't so different.
It's funny that living such different lives we all can find a common bond.
"MO-ted" is short for demoted, which is to say to be reduced to a lower grade, rank, class, or position. Your students are just doing their part to evolve the language. You'll thank them in a few years when the 1st edition of the New Speak dictionary is completed and we eliminate the need for all superfluous language.
Nice. I am so out of the loop when it comes to the teenage language. Obviously not missing much.
Although their grunts and one word answers are trying, I have to say the disrespect and straight rude attitudes and remarks to one another drive me crazy. Were we that bad?
Bless you my friend. Bless you.
Thanks. It's nice to know I'm not alone. Though I think part of your problem is your natural brilliance. If you worked in, oh, say, a lumber yard, you might have the same problem. This is why I blog, to at least read grown up thoughts, even if I don't speak or hear them.
The irony here, dear Jen, is that in college I actually DID work in a lumber yard (the office, anyway). At least they were nicer there (excluding the nepotism and other frustrating dynamics and bureaucratic crap).
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