A Mother's Forgiveness

[Shirley] Yesterday, I called my mother in Jamaica, WI, close to tears, and begged her forgiveness. Poor dear hadn't a clue what I was blabbing about... it was apparent she had forgotten the day... many years ago when she stood over me, predicting, yelling, rueing the day I would have kids of my own. She would wave her long index finger at me, eyes bulging out of her head as though possessed, shouting "Wait, just you wait until you have kids of your own!! God let me live to see the day!!" Well, God granted her wish, for Ladies, I am in Teenage Hell!!

I am just now returning to myself after living through the first week of my daughter attending her new high school in Manhattan. Fighting about appropriate attire for the first day of school set the tone for the week, and ended with her calling telling me she couldn't get on the Express bus home, because she didn't have $5 worth of quarters (went to 3 stores), and she didn't get her bus pass from school... I drop everything at work, to meet her -- I can't have my baby wondering the streets of Manhattan, what kind of mother do you take me for. My instructions were quite clear -- "I am leaving work now, when I'm on the Express bus I'll call you, be at your regular bus stop."
The Express bus finally turns up, it would take 20mins to get to my daughter's stop, however, not leaving anything to chance I call again
"I'm on the bus, where are you?"
"I'm across the street doing my homework" she says.
"Well, leave now, I should be at your stop in 10 mins"
Ten minutes, the bus stops at 51st and 6th Ave, the long line of people holds no one I recognize. Where is she? Is she at the wrong bus stop? Did something bad happen? I quickly pull out my high tech cell phone (the one she insisted all Cool Moms have), and press the 90 buttons to call.
"Where are you! I'm on the bus at the bus stop!"
"Coming" she says in her -- I've all the time in the world tone.
"Coming! you were supposed to be at the bus stop already!!"
"Okay, okay keep your hair on"
Frantically, I look up and down 6th ave for something, anything, resembling my child -- nothing, the bus conductor takes his last passenger and closes the doors.

Because this is my first blog, I can't begin to tell you what happened next, but that raving lunatic with the cell phone on the corner of 57th & 6th Avenue this past Friday was me.

Who am I, the name is Shirley, early 50s, happily married, with one daughter (still alive) residing in Queens. I've worked for the same law firm for over 20 years (Gosh, has it been that long??!!), and last year became real estate investor, and I am really enjoying the experience, education and empowerment, learning something new brings. It is my hope to share this experience with my daughter, should we either one of us survive the teenage years.

Anyway, I shared this latest episode with my mother, she was awfully gracious and listened without too much interrupting. She reminded me of my own Catholic school uniform, and the many times I was sent home because of my mirco miniskirts, and sympathized with me as today, life was so much faster than it was waaaay back when. But most of all complimented me when she said... "Honey, there's nothing to forgive, you're doing a great job, because with all the 'bad' things out there distracting our young people, quite honestly, I don't think I could have managed parenting today". Thanks Mom.