And Zen What

I started life as Mom, MOM! at an advanced age (no I'm not going to tell you what it was).

That's been an absolutely Good Thing, for all the obvious reasons: finances are easier, my patience is deeper, my sense of humor always at the ready. In fact I spend a lot of my time laughing hysterically at my kids (not always out loud). Kids are a hoot, especially if you are not worried one little bit about how they Reflect On You. When you are old as dirt, and when your kids do not share your DNA, it's easier, I think, not to get all wrapped around the axle about How It Looks ("it" being whatever outrage your darling has perpetrated in the last 5 minutes).

But it's not clear that all that will help much with the next part of growing up--mine, that is.

You see, One is on her first date.

I know it is a date because she showered and fussed with her hair and asked for the lint brush--things she never ever does when she is doing stuff with just-friends.

He is a nice boy. His parents are nice people. It's a day time date. Neither one of them is wearing clothes that show any abdominal skin or underclothing.

So that's good, right?

Yeah, right. I am wandering around in a haze. My baby. At the movies. With a boy. My baby who, the minute she could speak 2 words in a row, said to me, imperiously, "No dress!!!!" and hasn't had a skirt or dress on since (and still doesn't--she's wearing black pants today).

Yesterday, she turned 14. Tomorrow, she'll be 35.

Maybe, tomorrow, I'll be grown up enough to stand it.