Wednesday, January 20, 2010

No Longer Cool

I wrote this sometime last spring, when I was still nursing Gabriel and had not turned 30 yet...but I never published it.

It became quite evident to me yesterday that I am no longer cool. It was a realization that wasn't really all that hard to take, though. I've been bracing myself for it. I'm approaching the age of 30 after all, and being cool in the eyes of teenage girls who don't even know me has been on it's way out the door for a few years now I'm guessing.

Yesterday, in the check-out line at Wal-Mart, I just picked the shortest line...I didn't even notice who was working this particular line, and if I would have been thinking, I may have chosen a different one. I must first tell you that I was wearing my usual grocery shopping attire: a t-shirt, adidas pants, flip-flops, no make-up, hair not really fixed all that cute. I began to quickly put all my items on the conveyor belt (I had LOTS of stuff) since Josh had just sent me a text saying Gabriel was being fussy, and I knew it was time for me to get home and feed him. I tried to do my usual organization of my items: cold stuff, boxed stuff, non-food items, etc. I always try to be friendly to the cashier, but I quickly noticed that this girl didn't even say hi to me. I tend to make small talk, and I said something like, "Saturdays are pretty crazy in here, huh?" She just kept swiping my items and muttered, "Yeah," with no eye contact.

Then, another young girl came over to help bag my items. These two girls starting talking up a storm, among the vitally important information they were discussing was how Saturdays suck and that they were so glad they didn't have to work next Saturday because they don't like being there.

These two need customer service lessons.

But, perhaps if I was still cool, they would have been nice to me. These two young girls, with their perfect make-up, cute hair, and labeled clothing would have surely talked to me if I looked the same, right?

Maybe not.

I do know, however, that I am pretty cool to three small children. It doesn't matter what I look like, or if I've even showered! They give me lots of hugs and kisses. They tell me I'm the best mommy (well, Gabriel just grins, that's how I know) and it's the best feeling in the world.

So here's to being cool to my own children. May it fill the need I have to be cool.



**For the parenting experts out there, please don't think that I would trade discipline, guiding and training up my child for the sake of feeling cool. I let them think I'm cool, but I'm more than willing to be uncool if the circumstances call for it!

4 comments:

Nel said...

I am right there with you Chrissy!

Malika said...

We could start a club, Chrissy. I, too, am no longer cool. I'm okay with it, though. Once you acknowledge and accept it, it relieves a lot of pressure and just allows you to be the wonderful you that you already are.

Anonymous said...

Cool is a relative term. Being unique makes you truly cool. That must make me the coolest person in school!

Sonora said...

I completely agree. It is funny how being a mom can change your perspective on life. Things that were once so important don't matter anymore. I would rather be cool to my kids than anyone else too!
Sometimes I am still adjusting to my slightly older mom status (I'm only 29) though because at the store the other day this guy behind me in line asked a question and it took me a split second to realize he was talking to the cute maybe 20 year old behind me. I just smiled and watched him attempt and fail at hitting on her and sighed with relief that I was headed home to my husband.

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