I haven’t been sleeping well this week, which is very strange for me, so my general tiredness, coupled with upcoming ladies’ holidays and concern over the appalling disgrace that is Alberta politics, has me feeling quite gloomy of late. I find myself sighing to myself a lot, and staring off into space, like I’m Eeyore in a black sweater.
And so I turn to my blog to cheer myself; I needed a diversion, and also I don’t have any good chocolate in the house to munch on. I came across this post by my colleague Andrea, and I thought it would be fun to ask my kids 21 questions about ME, since Mother’s Day is fast approaching and all. This is a fun and kind of eye-opening little quiz; since the kids are 9 1/2 and 11, the answers were surprisingly astute. I encourage you to play this game with your own kids; with small children it would be a hoot. For example, when Jake was in kindergarten, he was tasked with writing down two things that I loved the most. His answer: baking and volunteering, accompanied by a picture of me at the book fair with a giant cookie in my hand.
Here are the unabridged answers from my children. Since they often answer in unison, like Forrest Gump and Bubba (ALABAMA, SIR!) there is generally just one answer for both of them.
1) What is something I always say to you?
I love you!
2) What makes me happy?
US!
3) What makes me sad?
Politics.
Note: It’s true. Politics are very, very depressing to me. I have a very dim view on politicians in general, and yet I still watch House of Cards.
4) How do I make you laugh?
Jake: Lame jokes.
Mark: Totally. Lame jokes about math.
Note: Again, true, but maybe not so flattering? THOSE JOKES ARE NOT LAME, BOYS.
5) What was I like when I was a kid?
Jake: I have no idea.
Mark: I think you had short hair.
6) How old am I?
Um…uh…I think…………forty?
Note: They took WAY too long to answer, given I just turned forty LAST MONTH and we had a party and made a BFD about it.
7) How tall am I?
Mark: Ooh! I know this one! Five foot…seven?
Note: He’s right!
8) What is my favourite thing to do?
Mark: Drink wine.
Jake: Yeah. Drink wine. And watch Elf.
Note: True. Possibly this sheds a bad light on me, since they didn’t say “hanging out with us” and perhaps this will be a topic of discussion in future therapy sessions, but I hope not.
9) What do I do when you’re not around?
Mark: Walk the dog.
Jake: Uh, I don’t know. Work?
10) If I become famous, what will it be for?
Cooking!
11) What am I really good at?
Mark: Math!
Jake: Math! And Just Dance.
Note: Not to be immodest, but I am really good at Just Dance. Especially the YMCA and I’ve Had The Time of My Life. I’ve perfected the spins and everything.
12) What am I not very good at?
Jake: Video games.
Mark: Totally. Video games.
Jake: You’re TERRIBLE at video games.
Mark: Well, except Just Dance.
Jake: Yeah, you never know where you’re driving or who the characters are.
Mark: You do die a lot.
13) What do I do for my job?
Jake: You’re the Meatless Mummy at Yummy Mummy Club!
14) What is my favourite food?
Mark: That salad you make on Fridays.
Jake: With pitas.
Mark: What’s that salad? Greek salad.
Jake: AND PITAS.
Note: It’s true, almost every Friday I make this Greek salad with a version of this hummus, and pita. It is my favourite meal!
15) What makes you proud of me?
Jake: When you bake things.
Mark: Totally! Baking things.
16) If I was a cartoon character, who would I be?
Mark: What kind of cartoon are we talking about? Like, a specific cartoon? Or one of those ones on Teletoon Retro? I can’t answer this.
Jake: Linda!
Note: Jake compared me with the mom on Phineas and Ferb. And Teletoon RETRO? I’m not sure I want to know where Mark was going with that.
17) What do you and I do together?
Mark: Um…fun stuff?
Jake: Like, gardening?
Note: Do more fun things together.
18) How are you and I alike?
Jake: We live in the same house.
Mark: We also argue for fun about lame stuff, and math.
Note: Mark is correct. It’s a hereditary thing, since my dad and I regularly get into long, involved, spirited arguments about ridiculous topics. It starts when one of us says “Did you read this about x?” and the other takes the polar opposite view. When this happens my husband leaves the room and my mother opens the wine.
19) How are you and I different?
Jake: I am great at video games and you are terrible.
20) How do you know I love you?
Jake: You tell us?
Mark: You hug us a lot.
21) Where is my favourite place to go?
MAUI!
You’re already famous in my house for #10, if writing recipes counts. I often make them.
That was awesome! I’m afraid to ask my kids, but they are much older and I’m sure there would be loads of wise cracks.
What a fun post! I might have to ask my kids. And then decide if it’s worthy of public consumption. 😉 Thanks for sharing!
I did a short one of these with Angus when he was little for father’s day (about matt) and he said Matt danced like Elmer Fudd. Still trying to wrap my head around your favourite meal being salad. You are so wholesome it’s like we’re a different species.