Do you ever feel like you’re old enough that you mum shouldn’t be able to embarrass you anymore? Or at least her mere presence doesn’t shame you the way it would have when you were a teenager? I feel like I should be past being embarrassed by my parents, but my mum did a fantastic job yesterday, with no knowledge or intention on her part. I feel like my embarrassment has gone from stupid stuff like asking about my menstrual cycle to a far more invasive pap talk and self breast exam discussions. Here’s one example of my mum just being a wee bit too open about stuff.
So I got a new Mac back in October and I bought the One-to-One package where you can basically have 52 one on one sessions for a year with a Mac tech person to help you get familiar with your computer. So yesterday i finally went in for my first session and the guy is really cool…kinda a Star Trek nerd but not horribly socially awkward or anything. So he’s showing me how to set up my gmail in the Mail application and he’s like, “Do you have any attachments? I’ll show you this cool shortcut to save pictures using Mail.” And I’m like, “Awesome! Well here’s one from my mum with an attachment. Let’s see what it is!” Thinking it’s some feminist cartoon of sorts complaining about married life, like they usually are. Mac Guy: “I hope there’s no nudity.” Me: “Me too… I’d be pretty uncomfortable if it was!” Of course my mum had to send me the “BE CAREFUL OF BREAST CANCER!” email with a picture of a severely tumoured nipple and that’s the one I choose to open. I was so mortified. Thanks mum. He took it pretty well though…started making cracks about potential pick up lines like “You should be careful of breast cancer… do want me to help you check?” He seems to believe that if inserted in conversation at the right moment, it could be very effective.
Anyway, not sure if all mums are grossly invasive like mine, but I just thought you guys could appreciate this. Especially Erin who knows my mum and could probably see her sitting me down and telling me it’s time to get a pap and using phrases like “sexually active” and “promiscuous” not necessarily referring to me …but definitely implying. HA.
~Aliyah Jessa
Seattle, Washington
aliyahjessa@gmail.com
