Friday, April 24, 2009

rack and glasses

I was putting my kids to bed the other night-I have a special good night routine, an unchanging ritual for each of them. They all vary from one another except at the end. I always say "I love you" before walking out of their rooms. They usually respond with an "I love you too." I say usually, because lately, my three year old has been adding her unique spin to it.

Me: "Night night don't let the..."

Zoe: Bed bugs bite."

Me:"Sweet..."

Zoe:"Dreams."

Me:"No more..."

Zoe:"Getting up."

Me:"I..."

Zoe:"Love you"

Me:"I love you too"

Then, as I was turning to leave...

Zoe:"I love your breasts and your glasses." she smiled, put her thumb in her mouth and turned over...

Me:"Ummm...Thanks..?"

My breasts and my glasses? O.k., I kind of understand the breast thing. Zoe has always been fascinated with them. When she was eighteen months old, she started putting little beanie baby toys down the front of her shirt. I thought that she was just being clever, that she had found a great way to carry her toys around. I even complimented her on this. "Hey Zoe-you are so smart! You figured out a way to keep your hands free and still carry your animals around...good for you!!" She looked at me(like I just didn't get it) put her hand on her animals and said "BREASTS!" So, I can understand her love of mine(sort of) They are interesting "sticky out" things-and she would like a pair of her own. (as a side note-I've got nothing special-just a standard issue set) But my glasses? I have a hard time comprehending that one...

When I picked out the frames for my glasses, I made the horrible mistake of having ALL of my children with me. Needless to say, I was a little preoccupied and not paying enough attention. I think that the sales clerk pulled a fast one. Seeing that I was so distracted, she convinced me that I "LOOKED FABULOUS!" in a wire rimmed pair that I had grabbed in an effort to just be done with it. I believed her. I did not realize that she was trying to unload back stock from 1973. When I returned to pick them up two weeks later, this time without children, the salesperson was nowhere to be found. She was probably hiding. I put them on and caught my reflection in the mirror. I looked...well, does anyone remember those horrible macrame wall hangings popular in the 70's? The kind with owls on them? These glasses gave me the appearance of a person who could have designed them...as a self portrait. For some reason, the lenses make my eyebrows look unusually large and tufted. I seem to be perpetually startled-maybe because of the enormous bushy growths coming out of my forehead? I needed these glasses. So, I convinced my self that they weren't that bad. Perhaps I just needed to get used to them-perhaps I was over exaggerating. I walked over to the register to pay for them. The salesclerk gave me the total, and said "Are you o.k. with the amount?" "Yes...,Why do you ask?" "Because you look so surprised." "No, I sighed..it's just my eyebrows." I quickly left the store keeping my head down.

Zoe's admiration of my glasses confuses me-and she is not the only one. Oscar adores them as well. They are a frequent topic of conversation for him. "Mama, you're wearing your glasses?" "Mama you have your glasses?" "Are you wearing your glasses mama?" "You have your glasses on mama?" "Glaaassssessss." I am just thankful he doesn't comment on my breasts.

So now, I am faced with a bit of a problem. It is time for new glasses. How is this change going to affect my kids? I am the first face that they see in the morning and the last that they see at night. Sometimes, changing something as little as my glasses, can have a big impact-and sometimes, it does nothing at all. I am going to risk it. I am weary of appearing perpetually bushy eyed. This time though, when I go to pick out my new frames, I am leaving the kids at home.

8 comments:

Nostrum said...

Hee! If it's any help, the last time I got new glasses, my son reacted by laughing hysterically until he got used to the new look.

Casdok said...

Good luck! My son cant even cope with me wearing sun glassess!

Love Zoe's spin on the night routine!

Maddy said...

There was a time when if I changed out of my uniform or removed my glasses or changed my hair I became unrecognizable.

On a more relevant point, I'd take someone you trust with you for advice and someone else at home to look after the littles!
Cheers

Chun Wong said...

Perhaps you could do a gradual phasing in of them - wear the old ones for part of the day and the new ones the rest of the time! Not sure if it would work.

I agree with Maddy, leave the kids at home this time!

Kim Wombles said...

For some reason, breasts are a fascination for both my girlies (5 and 7) still. They love to pat them. I don't know, maybe it's the cushiness (that's what they call it). The 7 year old has also decided that my middle-aged, had three kids belly is also pleasantly cushy and can't wait until hers is like that. :-)

Good luck on the glasses. I recently got my hair cut and worried over the change, but prepped them all, let them know I was getting it cut, how much, opting to have it mirror their length, and they ended up being thrilled. Somedays I picture getting it dyed a dramatically different color just to mess with them :-)

kathleen said...

Yes, I will be going without the kids this time...I am tired of looking like a woodland creature!
@kwombles...I think about doing things like that as well..:)

Club 166 said...

...I "LOOKED FABULOUS!" in a wire rimmed pair that I had grabbed in an effort to just be done with it. I believed her. I did not realize that she was trying to unload back stock from 1973. ...OK, you hooked me in with that line. Somewhere I have a picture of me from '73 in a pair of wire rimmed John Lennon 'ish glasses.

Just don't go for the big tortoiseshell ones this time.

Joe

kathleen said...

Joe-Not unless I'm going for the Elton John look! Or Charles Nelson Reilly-remember him!