I really have got to get to work ... my first trial as first chair starts Monday and I haven't finished preparing my cross of the plaintiff, haven't started writing my opening statement. I can only procrastinate for so long.
But let me take one quick second to applaud you, Twinks, for believing that the most important thing Twinklette can grow up to be is herself. I wanted to cheer after reading your last post.
I now know that I was very lucky as a child that my mother was not interested in dictating who I should be as an adult. She cared very much about training my character, but my personality was allowed to flower in any which direction I wanted it to go. Good evidence: y'all know that my sisters and I could not be more different in the externals, but we are all three sterling citizens when it comes to being honest, reliable, trustworthy, and dependable. There's a contrast to be made here to Mr. J's mom, who cared a lot more about trying to change his personality than she did about shaping his character. Luckily he was a pretty good person by nature ... but I digress.
My best friend Charlotte was saying the other day how much she enjoys getting to know her kids as they grow up and develop their own personalities. I think you two share a very similar perspective on your role as parents, and I really respect and admire it. I hope one day I will get the opportunity to do the same.
As one final note - we ate dinner the other night with Mr. J's good friend, who is in culinary school and about to become a first-time father. He was pondering on how to raise a child who is an adventurous eater: while he will eat anything, apparently he has a brother who eats only cheese pizza, casting his own parents' strategies in doubt. I shared your food philosophy when it comes to Twinklette (which you shared in a recent blog post about your MIL's insistance on ignoring it via "let me get you some mandarin oranges.") He was so excited by it and is very eager to put your method in play himself!
Thank you, Julep--your kind words mean a lot, and I'm glad your chef friend shares my philosophy of feeding children.
ReplyDeleteGood luck in your trial--thinking of you today. I know you're going to be smashing! Can't wait to hear all about it--and to toast with a classic cocktail when it's over!