Years ago, my mother picked up knitting. It was during a period when we didn't communicate particularly well. So, she decided to knit me a hat. She asked what color I'd like. I replied, "whatever you like." She asked what style, and I replied, "whatever you like." So, she went down to the local store and picked up a knit cap.
"It occurred to me," she said, "that if it didn't matter to you, I had other things I could be doing with my time." It was one of the first times I can remember her stepping back and realizing that she had a life independent of trying to be a stereotypical Jewish mother, and doing what was convenient for her. It made the hat she bought more treasured than any she might have knitted me.
I love this story.
Years ago, my mother picked up knitting. It was during a period when we didn't communicate particularly well. So, she decided to knit me a hat. She asked what color I'd like. I replied, "whatever you like." She asked what style, and I replied, "whatever you like." So, she went down to the local store and picked up a knit cap.
"It occurred to me," she said, "that if it didn't matter to you, I had other things I could be doing with my time." It was one of the first times I can remember her stepping back and realizing that she had a life independent of trying to be a stereotypical Jewish mother, and doing what was convenient for her. It made the hat she bought more treasured than any she might have knitted me.