Words of Wisdom From An Unlikely Source

It's not just a slogan on my blog header: Wisdom really can sneak up on you when you least expect it. In a conversation which also included onion rings, Easter goats, pedophilia, and see-saws, for example.

Riding around the other day with Daughter-Only and a friend of hers when Daughter-Only (who, please note, has a sixteenth birthday just around the corner) announces, in what can only be called an accusing manner, "Mommy, I have to go potty!"

I say, "I'm not sure how that can possibly be construed as my fault."

She says, "Everything that happens to me is your fault because it's your fault I was born."

I take a second of silence to digest this tidbit and then say, "So wait, do I get credit for all the good stuff that happens to you?"

She says, without hesitation, "No, it doesn't work that way."

I start to protest and she cuts me off with "Life's not fair, Mom. Get over it."