Thursday, October 26, 2006

My experiment

I tried an experiment with my mother, recently.

I called her in July, I think it was. She told me how much she loved talking to me, how much she missed our conversations and my sense of humour. (That's not quite how I remember it, as she was always critical of my sense of humour. (Apparently I was too rude!")

So, I thought, OK, well let's see how this works. I decided to use the old British tradition that if someone phones you then that means, in general terms, that they owe you a phone call.

So, I waited for her call and to continue the communications that she said she wanted. I waited in vain. In fact, after four months I got bored and phoned her. And got more of the I miss speaking with you blah blah blah, etc., nonsense.

I then came to a sad realisation. My mother wants to talk with me... but not really!

My mother wants to talk to the Mormon me who has not existed since I was 22 or so. I am now 49 and have not been a Mormon for the best part of 30 bloodly years!

But my exmormonism is still just a phase, of course.

I feel sorry for her. But there's nothing I can do .

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

My children are the same way...

Sister Mary Lisa said...

Maybe you should send her a picture of a phone that goes both ways...

That's a tough one.

Sometimes it's hard to come to the realization that you are more mature than your own parent(s).

Sister Mary Lisa said...

Maybe you should conduct experiment #2: Call her every day for a month and see if that changes anything.

Could be interesting to post your findings here.

Matt said...

I used to phone her every day. Then I thought: "Hang on... why does she never phone me?"

And, to be honest, at some point in every call there comes the "When are you coming back to church, son?" moment. And after 26 years that just wore SO thin...

Sister Mary Lisa said...

I can understand that. It sucks to wake up one day and realize that you're more mature than your parents, huh? Seriously sucks.