When I mentioned that I needed to take the meat out the freezer on Monday to allow it to defrost in the refrigerator, my 5-year-old suggested that I put it outside the window like she had seen the neighbor do. I said it was safer to use the refrigerator. Then my 19-year-old spoke up. “Other people do things for convenience or because they see everyone else doing it that way, but Ima knows how you’re really supposed to do things.”
His decisiveness surprised me. “How do you know my way is always right?” I asked. He smiled and said he’s lived with me long enough to know.
Even if there’s some truth to his comment, I have mixed feelings about it. I hope he won’t say it to his wife.
If he’s smart enough to know you’re right, he hopefully will be smart enough about a wife.
I sometimes teach Lamaze. I made a sheet with twenty statements (Pacifiers are great// Breastfeeding is OK for some, but not me// Babies should sleep on their back// Dads NEVER diaper babies// etc.) and each spouse, separately, marks TRUE or FALSE. Then I tell them (they are to do at home) to compare answers, so they can discover what they are going to fight about after the baby comes (What!! A Pacifier?!??!). Then maybe they can talk about how things were done in their respective homes, and try and reach some agreement BEFOREHAND.
I think it’s a tremendous compliment to you. However, you are right that it he shouldn’t mention it to his wife; I think there’s still some time tell then.
Chag Kasher Ve’Sameach.
That is the sweetest thing!
My brother and I say the same about our father; it may not be what others want to hear, but he is often right. (note I didn’t say *always*–and now that he is getting older, he isn’t as decisive).
Hope your son doesn’t say to his wife that his mom is always right! Sometimes you have to let a spouse do things the *wrong* way (if possible) just for Shalom Bayit.
You might want to tell him that he should never say that to his wife. Since you’re always right 😉 I know (married) men 10 years older who have compared what their wives do to what their moms do (unfavorably). There’s a lot of seething.
I wouldn’t worry about his saying it to his wife. Every married man says it once, usually early on in the marriage. The vast majority learn quickly never to say it again. Frankly, there is a lot more to lose in getting your wife annoyed or mad at you than in conceding that your mother may not have been right about everything. You know for sure that the problem is over when you hear a husband telling one of the kids “If Ima says this is how we have to do it then that’s the right way to do it.”
Chag Kasher V’sameach
That’s a fine son you’ve got!
Your son is smart 😉
Chag kasher v’sameach! 🙂
He might say it to his wife … ONCE!!!! 🙂
Chag Kasher Ve’Sameach to all!
Smart boy. Smart enough not to say it to his future wife, who will be smart enough to set him straight should he ever accidently make that error.
Chag Kasher VeSameach.
PS Don’t think I didn’t notice that you decided not to commit to one post a day, like you did last year. Although you probably came close…
RA: More time than he would like!
RM: Great idea for the Lamaze class.
Raizy: Your son’s comment was not sweet, but still funny.
Leora: My mother was like that too. I agree about the shalom bayit.
Kate: Whoo, that’s extreme.
PK: You’re probably right.
I-D, S-R, and Mark: Thanks and chag sameach.
Sometimes I think that most conflicts of the first year of marriage are along the lines of “my family’s way is the right way.”
Baila–I did have some big gaps, definitely not as prolific as last year. You, on the other hand, have posted a lot. Must be because of your Pesach help. 🙂 Chag sameach.