Act your age

It was our morning tradition for years. Every day as I sent my kids off to school I would smile and yell, "I love you! Have fun today!" They would always turn around and wave and tell me they love me too. One day my youngest daughter, Julia (who we describe as a party in a box), responded with, "You have fun today too!" Thus, a new tradition was born. No matter how hectic the morning, no matter how much yelling and gnashing of teeth involved, I could count of Julia to smile and wave and yell with enthusiasm "You have fun today too!"

One ordinary morning like every other morning, missing library books, three different lunch orders, last minute papers to sign, I looked at them all and gave them my customary send off. Then it happened. Julia smiled wide, looked at me with her dancing eyes and said, "You have fun today too, washing dishes and stuff. He! He! He!" I was floored. My youngest, most precious, loving child just mocked me, and she relished it. My mind was spinning and with my years of wisdom and patience I retorted, "Oh yeah! Well I'm working at the bookstore today, so there!"

Before I knew it I could feel my tongue move inside my mouth and begin to push against the back of my teeth as my lips started to part. In my head I suddenly heard my mom saying, "Stephanie Lea, act your age!" I froze and smiled while everyone laughed, and the whirlwind that is my family headed for the bus stop. My witty retort, along with the fact that I almost stuck out my tongue, made me realize that I had just temporarily regressed into a six year child. I had thoroughly failed to "act my age". And it felt great!