Wednesday, January 14, 2009

hey you, stupid, yeah you

I've done a few stupid things in my life. Not hitchhiking or base jumping stupid. No, mine has been more of the listening to Rush Limbaugh in college and buying the 200 count Red Vine package from Costco stupid.

Truth be told, I think I am of average intelligence. As children, my sister and I were given I.Q. tests. To this day my mother won't tell us our scores. It doesn't take a genius to figure out why. My sister can play any instrument she picks up site unseen, it took me three years just to learn to braid hair. While my sister emerged as the teachers pet, I was spending my time collecting them.

circa 1979
I don't mind being average. I worked hard and did well in school. I developed a love for reading and I have set out to read all the great ones. Or the ones I think are great anyway. Maybe by the end of my life I will have some small understanding of the world in which I lived.


But let me get to the point of this post. I hate the word stupid. The boy has been busted as of late using this word, or one of its derivatives, and there has been some punishments dealt.


I also hate that the world seems to only really recognize genius when it comes to scholarly feats. I once spoke to a friend on the phone. She was driving her kids to karate, eating an apple, fast forwarding the DVD, quizzing her daughter on spelling words and putting on mascara. And we had a perfectly cognoscente conversation, albeit a few, "stigma, s-t-i-g-m-a" and "surplus, s-u-r-p-l-u-s" .

Dangerous? You might say. But I say to you, necessity is the mother of invention, and mothers, above all, are inventors.

I think it is time we redefine terms like genius and stupid. Let's start by looking around us at the mere virtuosos of everyday life. I tell you, you are probably living right next door to a mastermind of organization! Have you seen these mother's with four plus kids? They are nothing short of brilliant.

I personally think I should be given an honorary doctorate in reproductive medicine. I know all there is to know. Can someone get on that please?


The drawing for the hat in the previous post will be open until Friday so scroll on down and have a look.

12 comments:

Elizabeth said...

Agreed. And I think I deserve an honorary -- hell, not honorary -- a doctorate in pediatric neurology.

Unknown said...

Here here. And as long as we are asking, who else deserves a doctorate? Or maybe most of my readers are Mensa members and disagree with the post entirely. Doubtful.

Anonymous said...

I know you love comments! So here I am, one of your favorite lurkers!!! You said it best, when you said that you pour your heart out and nobody says anything back! just know you are heard and it is fun to learn new things about you! DARLING HATS! Jenny

Laura said...

I am more of an awards show kind of gal. THAT is what I want. Like the Oscars. Or Golden Globes. I want to walk a red carpet wearing Vintage Valentino, drink champagne and nibble on fine cuisine, and then...I want to WIN a freakin award. It is NOT enough to just be nominated. I am that mom with four kids, and just for that fact alone... that I have pushed four human beings out of my vagina...and have been changing diapers, getting up at night, cooking, cleaning, helping with homework, driving to ballet, wiping tears, snot and shit... I DESERVE TO WIN. Something. Anything.

And then I would like to get drunk and make out with Patrick Dempsey at the after party.

And I will thank all of you mothers, and God of course, in my too long of an acceptance speech.
Thank you. This award is for all of us mothers...

Caroline D. said...

LOL! My mom pulled the same IQ test score thing with me and my brother! And he is clearly waaaay smarter than me, although I am better at relationships...

Anonymous said...

So Mom did the IQ thingy to us..so what, that doesn't mean anything 30 years later. I had to sell my cello, my piano only has 84 keys that work, and that doesn't do squat for me on a day to day basis! You on the other hand got all the beauty and finesse! I'd give my right arm to have one-tenth of the creativity that you have in your pinkie finger!

As for awards...ohhhh, I think I should get something equal to a Super Bowl ring for all the games I have frozen my booty off at, nursed in the bleachers at, driven home with a headache from, and whipped up meals on the console en route!!

Love Ya Sis Ü

wendy said...

Oh man, good thoughts. I've always felt stupid. I struggled in school just to get a C while MY sister *love her* was validictorian of her graduating class. She has traveled, written an article for a book that is used as a teaching tool at the University of Saskatchewan (Canada) My brother was in the Guinees Book of World Records for the fastest boy scout knot tying. I have done diddly squat!!! I am not boobing here. Just gotta remember my talents and worth here. HEY I AM A DAMN FUNNY PERSON who likes to have a good time and I love people. So there.

Terri Fisher said...

Great post! I don't think that we mothers give ourselves enough credit for what we do every day. We have multitasking down to a science!

Kristi Kroeger said...

If the mother of the child who was dealt punishment for sassy language uses such said language, does she then have to go to her room too? Or does she just flip off the smart*** friend of the mother?

Anonymous said...

I tagged you!

Unknown said...

Kristi-
rest asured, this is me you are talking to. Of course I just flip you off.

tollestrupfamily said...

You know I buy the red vines and listen to Rush Limbaugh and stupid is the "s" word in my house. If you get me mad enough I just may spell it. :)