You know what hurts?
When your daughter passively, casually, nonchalantly informs you that you, in fact, are not cool.
Say what?
This revelation came out into the open after I spent the day being tossed, and twisted, and dropped, and spun on a variety of amusement park rides. No wimpy momma here. The crazier and scarier the better. Would you ride the Cliffhanger? I do and am not ruffled at all by the dripping make up and hair that is a major side effect of such behavior.
But I guess that doesn't count for nothin'.
I don't think it's because of the way we dress. I feel I dress adequately enough to be at least in the bottom registers of cool. Jeff is definitely in the middle portions of the coolness scales. He refuses to dress like a Metro with things like "fancy @$! jeans" but he still dons cool duds and can honestly state that he has worn Quiksilver for almost 25 years. I don't wear mommy jeans with shoulder pads and he doesn't wear dark socks with sandals and shorts.
But I guess that doesn't count for a darn thing either.
We're lively, know how to joke and have a good laugh, keep active and make sure our kids are living a vibrant and well balanced life. We do lots of things as a family, with friends, and try to encourage our kids to have independence and allow them their own time. Our kids enjoy being with us. Sometimes they even choose time with us over time with their friends.
But still, our daughter would not use that 4 letter adjective to describe us.
I was shocked and taken back when Kennedy leaked this information. With my jaw dropped and while completely horrified, I quickly asked Jeff, "What is she talking about?"
In his typical and casual mode he replied, "Of course she doesn't think we're cool. Kids never think their parents are cool."
Which got me to thinking.
He was right.
Kennedy assured me that her friends think we're cool and like us a lot.
Kennedy likes us a lot too. She says she's just with us all the time and that she's just used to us.
I guess coolness can only truly be seen when experienced in less frequent doses. Maybe kids become immune to their parents' coolness and, as a result, cannot truly appreciate it in its full magnitude.
I'm gonna stick with that theory.
6 comments:
I spend (read WASTE) a lot of time telling Todd how funny and cool I am...to no avail, sad to say.
If Kennedy's COOL friends think you are COOL, shouldn't she take their words for it?!
At any rate, I (although quite uncool myself) think you and Jeffrey Jay are the bomb.
IT AIN'T SO!
I fear I fall short of even the bottom of the register for coolness in the way I dress. I do have limitations, though...If I had the bod of a 14 yr. old, I'd have more of a chance! :)
Notice that her friends think you are cool, but she does not. Now think back about 20 plus years. What did you think made a parent cool? Most kids think other parents are cool because they don't put any expect anything from them, like their parents, who know and love them and are doing their job are required to do. Other parents just have them over to have a good time - not clean their room or do their homework or act as referee when World War III breaks out at home. So Kennedy not admitting that you are cool means you are doing your job well! You are being a parent - not just a friend. Kids have lots of friends (which are are too, of course), but they only have 2 parents - and they need those 2 parents! So don't feel bad - realize you are just being a great parent!
Alright, I officially beg to differ with Kennedy... I think you are the coolest! =) But it is definitely true that kids never seem to think that their parents are "cool," even when they are lucky enough to have awesome ones like you guys!
While I completely disagree with Kennedy and think she is VERY lucky to have you and Jeff and all of your COOLNESS....I have to remind you that this is one of the drawbacks of having a teenager.. I used to listen to Queen and Grateful Dead with my kids and knew every word of every song and I still managed to be the "uncool" parent who often times was an embarrassment to them. Julie is right....you are just doing your job as a great parent. Relax and consider the source.....a teenager! (I love Kennedy in spite of her poor judgement of what is and isn't cool.)
This got me wondering about Ryan's, who happens to be the same age, thoughts on HIS parents...
I just directly asked, "Do you think Dad & I are cool?"
Ryan: "Sure!"
I'm feeling pretty good, now, UNTIL he adds on something more...
Ryan: "BUT, some of my friend's parents are A LOT cooler!"
And then he can't stop - just POURIN' the salt in the wound...
Ryan: "In fact, I'd say in comparison, - they're WAY cooler than YOU!"
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