Respect or the lack of it

A few weeks ago I knew what my next blog entry would be about. At the time, I was just coming home from Toronto and "respect" seemed like a burning issue. And when I say "respect" please read "the lack of it". Rodney Dangerfield built a career on the concept titling his autobiography (in part): A Lifetime of No Respect

I am that mother who thought her kids' friends should call me Mrs., (now, of course, it is Ms.) much to the dismay and embarrassment of some of my kids. This says something about me, doesn't it?

Well it doesnt seem to translate in my day to day existence. Should I spell it out? I am invariably left to introduce myself to my children's friends & guilted into doing so by first name.

I have virtually confessed my age in this blog, so am I not entitled to slow down the pace of my life, without being "damned" as a 95 year old? My baby - OK he's 37 and certainly no baby - is constantly on my case: but Ma you're not 95. Well, what if I figure I have earned the right to act 95 at one time and act 45 or even16 at another time. Surely I have earned that right.

Behaving the appropriate grandmotherly type, is such a drain; so stressful, and definitely no fun. I insist on my right to be cool, play Nintendo; shut the world out with MY IPod; yes and even have a blog of my own. All of this and respect PLEASE.

And it is also my right (truth, be told this comes with the territory and has nothing to do with rights) to forget:

• your name moments after we are introduced;
• 3 of the 4 items on your shopping list (and the shopping list itself)
• that I ALREADY called you back
  

Yes the list goes on and on. Perhaps the right I demand is to be forgiven and not mocked for these frequent 'faux pas', and indeed respect thru it all.

I assert here and now that my behaviour shall in no way impact on the respect due me, as a mother, grandmother, aunt, older cousin or your friend's parent.

Written with love and respect and love (I know I said 'love' 2X)