I think that we are hilarious..... if you don't believe me, just ask me!

Okay....the people that know my older daughter and I have requested to hear more of the "banter" that they witness when they experience Violet and I in the flesh (which is quite an experience, I must say!). They say that we are more acerbic and testy when together and seem to not get along as well as this blog may represent. Far be it from me to ever misrepresent anything. Remember, we are a family of storytellers. We embellish everything...truth be damned.

I love my daughter and I tell her so at the end of every meeting and conversation that I have with her. I have truly never thought of us as acerbic or testy. Mmmmmmmmm. I consider us to be funny, hilarious and down right entertaining. We play off of each other verbally like Crosby and Hope or Abbott and Costello. We take turns being the straight guy and can each develop a story and hit the punchline with precision.

"To see ourselves as others see us" (Burns). Do we appear differently to others than we think we do? Does that include relationships with family members? I don't think that one would consider what we do as fighting, but outsiders might interpret me as an overbearing, controlling mother and her as spoiled, perfectionistic twenty something. It could be worse, they could see Violet as an overbearing and controlling daughter and me as a spoiled, perfectionistic fifty something. You can see how seriously I am taking this...and myself.

I think that it must be natural at this point in Violet's maturation to question extensively my motives for advice to her. Ok, I get it....so at any moment she can stop asking my advice and deal with her own consequences. She knows this. And she is continually frustrated that I am not raising her younger siblings in the (strict, controlling) manner that I apparently raised her. I admit that I have gotten a little lax in my parenting. Although I contend that my subsequent children are better kids and require less discipline and structure than my first child.

I kinda wish that we could do the ole Freaky Friday switch and walk at least one mile in each other's shoes for just one day. I know that I would have a blast being in my carefree twenties again...except for the graduate school exams, demanding clerkships, and late nights. And she might enjoy the quiet respite of my retiring middle aged life....except for the 8-5 career, carpools, school activities, household responsibilities, and fear of doing something devastatingly damaging to my children's psyches that might result in a child being incarcerated or institutionalized.

All of this to say, I am confident in my relationship with my older daughter. I know that she loves and appreciates me for who I am and she knows that I love and appreciate her for who she is.

If you don't believe me, just ask to see the signed statement and non-compete contract that I forced her to sign.