Impressed

Erma Bombeck, my favorite female humor writer ever, once penned a line which etched its way into my memory so deeply that I can call it into service at the drop of a funny book. She talked about how, after becoming a successful author, she continued to give her children “the poverty they so richly deserve.”

I’m certain Erma didn’t deny her teenagers the basics. She fed and clothed them, educated them, and got them to the dentist and doctor on a regular basis. She and her husband took the family to church and I’ll bet they had some nice vacations, too.

But then what? I’m imagining that Erma didn’t spend every waking hour trying to “make memories” for her children, determined that each day brought forth some expensive trinket from Best Buy or the Apple Store, something they’d remember forever. I’m betting Christmas didn’t blow all her book royalties, either, because somehow I think she understood that a child’s memories can’t be purchased—not at any price.

If you were to describe your best childhood memories, how many of them center around a hefty price tag on a designer label? I’m guessing none.

Why does riding on the open tail-gate of Grandpa’s Rambler with my two sisters—our feet dangling through the corn and our laughter echoing over the acres—still give me a free thrill every time I remember it? Besides the fact that little Mary Baillie fell out and we had to drive back and pick her up?

Maybe it’s because no stupid parental (or grand-parental) mixed motives involving new money and a desire to keep up with those darned Joneses conspired to create a false sense of values in which to force selective memories of supposed quality time upon us unwitting kids.

In other words, my folks were broke.

It never occurred to my parents to try to make memories for us. And yet we have them—and good ones. Happily for moms and dads back in the day, no one really believed that memories could be purchased, that if you just plunked the plastic down harder today than you did yesterday, you’d leave a better, richer memory in your child’s mind than the less-than-stellar one you made before.

I’ve come across two articles in the past 24 hours that express what I’m trying to say far better than I can. Read this one first, and then follow it with the most refreshing piece you’ll read this summer, by my friend Lisa Samson.

Then tell us what you think. Were your best memories purchased?

Or did they arrive penniless but friendly, carrying an empty mayonnaise jar with holes poked in the lid, eager to help you catch those elusive fireflies one hot July night?

Posted by Katy on 07/25/06 at 06:19 AM

Fallible Comments...

So true, Katy. My kids tell me they're glad we couldn't afford to buy superfluous stuff because it forced us to use our imaginations and creativity.

I'm thankful for every material thing God has provided, but I also think Erma had the right idea.
Posted by Jeanne Damoff on 07/25/06 at 07:28 AM
Wow - that article was scary. It made my struggle with an extended family member who throws low 4-digit birthday parties for her twins seem small potatoes.

We offended these in-laws last week because my eight-year-old declined to attend their birthday party. It was a hair-do, make-up, and nails makeover party at a store where the girls were made to look like rock stars, followed by a limo ride to a fancy restaurant and a red carpet walk from the limo to the restaurant. This was a downscaled party compared to what they usually do. My daughter just didn't want to do it, and I don't think my in-laws (the adults!) understood that at all...
Posted by Chris(tine) on 07/25/06 at 09:58 AM
Jeanne--Luckily for my kids, we didn't have any money to do stupid stuff with when they were young. We probably would have done some stupid stuff, too. Money does that to people! (Even credit cards, with no money to back them up, do that to people!)

All three of my kids are imaginative and creative. I'm so grateful they had years of relying on resources that can't be purchased or supplied by comparison-driven parents. They are beautiful, reasonable, believing adults. Whew! We dodged the bullet on that deal!

Chris(tine)--I love it that your 8-year-old declined. As a parent, I wonder how I would have handled the situation when my daughter was that age? Would I have insisted she go just to keep up appearances, or to prevent strain on the adult relationships? I hope not, but heck, I've been known to be AT LEAST that shallow.....You've inspired me with your comment.

I've got to say a hair, make-up, rock star, limo party for 8-year-olds makes me feel pretty nauseated.

I've still only been in a limo with a dead person in the back. But that's just me. ;)
Posted by Katy on 07/25/06 at 10:09 AM
宁波三博科技有限公司是专业提供三博<a href="http://www.3bcom.com.cn/pvc.htm">一卡通</a>配件，一卡通系统、一卡通方案的一卡通企业，宁波三博科技有限公司成功推向市场的智能设备产品包括：SB-100系列感应卡读写器、SB-108系列感应卡售饭机、SB-108系列感应卡收费机、SB-200系列考勤机、 SB-300系列巡检机、SB-400系列门禁机等，以及围绕自动识别设备所开发的数据转换器等。
Posted by 一卡通 on 08/24/06 at 02:47 AM

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Personal blog of christian writer & fallible mom Katy McKenna Raymond in Kansas City, Missouri Katy is represented by Greg Johnson at WordServe Literary Read more Katy at LateBoomer.net Follow Katy on Twitter Follow Katy on Facebook 123 Recent Posts Try Becoming Brenda Starr Off Beat Scattered That’s It So I’ve Finally Signed With An Agent. Now What? The Spoon Sciatica Sweetheart A Woman’s Train of Thought Has No Caboose However much we own, we are all still living on borrowed time After all, when restaurants shrink portions, they don’t shrink prices. As with everything in life, balance is key. Slow down, you move too fast… Yeah, I know. I have issues. Search Advanced Search Syndicate Login E me at katy @ ngenius.com	Impressed Erma Bombeck, my favorite female humor writer ever, once penned a line which etched its way into my memory so deeply that I can call it into service at the drop of a funny book. She talked about how, after becoming a successful author, she continued to give her children “the poverty they so richly deserve.” I’m certain Erma didn’t deny her teenagers the basics. She fed and clothed them, educated them, and got them to the dentist and doctor on a regular basis. She and her husband took the family to church and I’ll bet they had some nice vacations, too. But then what? I’m imagining that Erma didn’t spend every waking hour trying to “make memories” for her children, determined that each day brought forth some expensive trinket from Best Buy or the Apple Store, something they’d remember forever. I’m betting Christmas didn’t blow all her book royalties, either, because somehow I think she understood that a child’s memories can’t be purchased—not at any price. If you were to describe your best childhood memories, how many of them center around a hefty price tag on a designer label? I’m guessing none. Why does riding on the open tail-gate of Grandpa’s Rambler with my two sisters—our feet dangling through the corn and our laughter echoing over the acres—still give me a free thrill every time I remember it? Besides the fact that little Mary Baillie fell out and we had to drive back and pick her up? Maybe it’s because no stupid parental (or grand-parental) mixed motives involving new money and a desire to keep up with those darned Joneses conspired to create a false sense of values in which to force selective memories of supposed quality time upon us unwitting kids. In other words, my folks were broke. It never occurred to my parents to try to make memories for us. And yet we have them—and good ones. Happily for moms and dads back in the day, no one really believed that memories could be purchased, that if you just plunked the plastic down harder today than you did yesterday, you’d leave a better, richer memory in your child’s mind than the less-than-stellar one you made before. I’ve come across two articles in the past 24 hours that express what I’m trying to say far better than I can. Read this one first, and then follow it with the most refreshing piece you’ll read this summer, by my friend Lisa Samson. Then tell us what you think. Were your best memories purchased? Or did they arrive penniless but friendly, carrying an empty mayonnaise jar with holes poked in the lid, eager to help you catch those elusive fireflies one hot July night? Posted by Katy on 07/25/06 at 06:19 AM Fallible Comments... So true, Katy. My kids tell me they're glad we couldn't afford to buy superfluous stuff because it forced us to use our imaginations and creativity. I'm thankful for every material thing God has provided, but I also think Erma had the right idea. Posted by Jeanne Damoff on 07/25/06 at 07:28 AM Wow - that article was scary. It made my struggle with an extended family member who throws low 4-digit birthday parties for her twins seem small potatoes. We offended these in-laws last week because my eight-year-old declined to attend their birthday party. It was a hair-do, make-up, and nails makeover party at a store where the girls were made to look like rock stars, followed by a limo ride to a fancy restaurant and a red carpet walk from the limo to the restaurant. This was a downscaled party compared to what they usually do. My daughter just didn't want to do it, and I don't think my in-laws (the adults!) understood that at all... Posted by Chris(tine) on 07/25/06 at 09:58 AM Jeanne--Luckily for my kids, we didn't have any money to do stupid stuff with when they were young. We probably would have done some stupid stuff, too. Money does that to people! (Even credit cards, with no money to back them up, do that to people!) All three of my kids are imaginative and creative. I'm so grateful they had years of relying on resources that can't be purchased or supplied by comparison-driven parents. They are beautiful, reasonable, believing adults. Whew! We dodged the bullet on that deal! Chris(tine)--I love it that your 8-year-old declined. As a parent, I wonder how I would have handled the situation when my daughter was that age? Would I have insisted she go just to keep up appearances, or to prevent strain on the adult relationships? I hope not, but heck, I've been known to be AT LEAST that shallow.....You've inspired me with your comment. I've got to say a hair, make-up, rock star, limo party for 8-year-olds makes me feel pretty nauseated. I've still only been in a limo with a dead person in the back. But that's just me. ;) Posted by Katy on 07/25/06 at 10:09 AM 宁波三博科技有限公司是专业提供三博<a href="http://www.3bcom.com.cn/pvc.htm">一卡通</a>配件，一卡通系统、一卡通方案的一卡通企业，宁波三博科技有限公司成功推向市场的智能设备产品包括：SB-100系列感应卡读写器、SB-108系列感应卡售饭机、SB-108系列感应卡收费机、SB-200系列考勤机、 SB-300系列巡检机、SB-400系列门禁机等，以及围绕自动识别设备所开发的数据转换器等。 Posted by 一卡通 on 08/24/06 at 02:47 AM Page 1 of 1 pages Commenting is not available in this weblog entry. Next entry: The Beauty Of Budding Bloggers Previous entry: What Will That McKenna Think Of Next? << Back to main


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Personal blog of christianwriter & fallible momKaty McKenna Raymondin Kansas City, Missouri

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Personal blog of christian
writer & fallible mom
Katy McKenna Raymond
in Kansas City, Missouri