Survey says....
alchemine posted her daughter's latest results to an interesting questionnaire about a month ago. I thought it was neat, so I printed out the questions and posed them to my own kids while we were in Scotland. It's just taken me this long to finally post the responses. :P
Note: MiniPlu wrote out her responses (I corrected her spelling :P) and later revised some of her answers, but Two dictated his, on the spot.
MiniPlu's responses, age almost-13:
1. What is something mom always says to you?
"Hand it over. Two isn't your responsibility." (Me: She means, I literally hold out my hand and have her pretend she's actually handing me her attempt to parent her brother - which he strenuously objects to - and letting ME handle him.
2. What makes mom happy?
Suprises (cleaning, birthdays), good behavior, academic achievements and handling a situation like an adult.
3. What makes mom sad?
Negative tactics towards her (sassing, yelling, eyerolling, brattiness - yeah, Im really annoying).
4. How does your mom make you laugh?
Good jokes, tickling, funny actions or something said.
5. What was your mom like as a child?
Ummm ... she did hula and singing and was a goody-two-shoes. (Me: Yep, I won the senior class award for that last one. :P)
6. How old is your mom?
2015
- 1971
44 Oh, God, I'm a horrible child (me: referring to the fact that she didn't automatically know this. Also, she was wrong - I'll be 44 tomorrow but was 43 at the time she took this).
7. How tall is your mom?
IDK 5'5"? (me: only off by half an inch! I'm 5'4.5")
8. What is her favorite thing to do?
Quality family time or time with dad and away from the little monsters (Psst it's Two and me :-P)
9. What does your mom do when you're not around?
Volunteer in, like, 7 things, clean, cook, go on the computer doing 90 things there and, if she's really lucky, a nap.
10. If your mom becomes famous, what will it be for?
Draco in Darkness (or another Harry Potter Fan fiction.) (Me: She saw a feedback email for DID a back in May and asked what "Draco In Darkness" was so I told her. She asked to read it and, after some thought, I said yes, but I haven't remembered to give her the link yet, and need to think of a way of doing it so she won't stumble into my p0rn fic afterwards.)
11. What is your mom really good at?
Cooking, baking, sewing, TKD, being a mom, packing, being a genuinely nice person to lean on (unless I'm mad at her and then she's the worst person in the universe).
12. What is your mom not very good at?
HAVING A GOOD BREATH! That is, like, my biggest pet peeve. (Me: Clearly, I need to stock up on mints :P). Fashion, but every once in a while it's, like, what did you do to my mom!
13. What does your mom do for a job?
Oh, God, she has the hardest job out there ... motherhood. Dun, dun, dun! (Me: Darned right!)
14. What is your mom's favorite food?
Gluten free pastries and Uncle Rob's baking (Me: Not even close on the last one. I mean, yes, I like his cookies and his apple pie, but I have to cheat in order to eat those, and I like my banana bread much better than his. Sorry - I prefer my own baking.)
15. What makes you proud of your mom?
She puts up with our crap and we give her loads of it and somehow she is still sane. She's also skilled at lots of things and she can hula.
16. If your mom were a character, who would she be?
Bess from Nancy Drew because she's a goody two shoes but up for an adventure.
17. What do you and your mom do together?
Talk, walk, color, play games.
18. How are you and your mom the same?
Same hobby interests, generally. (Me: Uh, really? I can hardly think of any hobbies we share!)
19. How are you and your mom different?
Me: Super perfectionist and fashion queen.
Mom: Medium perfectionist and unfashion queen (Me: my devotion to jeans and t-shirts has always been a thorn in her side.)
20. How do you know your mom loves you?
Affection.
21. What does your mom like most about your dad?
Uh, his personality? and, ummm ... oh for God's sakes IDK :-P
22. Where is your mom's favorite place to go?
Library, museums, touristy sites.
23. How old was your mom when you were born?
2002
- 1971
31
Two's responses, age 11.4:
1. What is something mom always says to you?
"Stop/don't do that/don't complain
2. What makes mom happy?
Me not arguing.
3. What makes mom sad?
Arguing and when people forget her birthday. (Me: Heh, I was just pouting today that I'd only received one card in the mail.)
4. How does your mom make you laugh?
By reading me stories that are funny.
5. What was your mom like as a child?
Always had to ride her bike to school. (Me: This should have been listed under "Things Mom always says to you" - in my attempt to guilt them into being more independent. Not that it's working.)
6. How old is your mom?
43
7. How tall is your mom?
5'5" (this seems to be their universal thought)
8. What is her favorite thing to do?
Read books and tell us what not to do (Me: I sense a theme, don't you?)
9. What does your mom do when you're not around?
Play with the puppy.
10. If your mom becomes famous, what will it be for?
Writing a parenting book.
11. What is your mom really good at?
Reading and walking the dog (Me: he means "simultaneously" - I've actually got a significant reputation in the neighborhood for doing this, is it really that amazing?)
12. What is your mom not very good at?
Making me calm down after an argument. (Me: Sigh - I do try, but sometimes he really resists being comforted!)
13. What does your mom do for a job?
She's a mom/she works in the library.
14. What is your mom's favorite food?
Spaghetti.
15. What makes you proud of your mom?
She understands transgenderness. (Me: Yes, that was the word he used. :D)
16. If your mom were a character, who would she be?
Cinderella. (Me: The truth hurts :-P)
17. What do you and your mom do together?
Stories and stuffie talks.
18. How are you and your mom the same?
We both like the Theodosia books.
19. How are you and your mom different?
I'm trans and she's not.
20. How do you know your mom loves you?
She lets me be who I want to be. (Me: except when he wants to be a completely uncivilized hooligan.)
21. What does your mom like most about your dad?
His lovingness for her.
22. Where is your mom's favorite place to go?
California. (Me: not unless it's Tahoe City or the House in SF. Although I do like visiting people in CA.)
23. How old was your mom when you were born?
32
On an unrelated note: while I was typing this up, the puppy barfed up her dinner (which she ate hours ago) on her non-washable bed. Sigh. Hopefully spray cleaner will take care of the smell. She barfed again when I took her outside, and made a valiant effort to re-eat both piles, EWWW. I hope she just ate something weird, as puppies do, and that this is an isolated incident.
I also finished reading Rose this afternoon. Cute story, and I like how the bratty kids started being more like friends with her. My only real complaint, aside from the fact that the villain's evil theories were never properly explained, was that the story ended a little abruptly for me. I'll probably read the sequels at some point, however.
Also, because I don't think I've mentioned it yet, I'm worried about my dad. During my usual Sun evening call to him, he asked me if I would write a thank-you note to his favorite/usual bank teller for going above and beyond the call of duty. Why?
Because he cannot balance his account anymore, and she's been doing it for him. For awhile.
Now, I knew she'd been very helpful to him in the past, for more routine things, including making sure I was listed on all his accounts so I won't have trouble dealing with the bank when he dies. He'd done a little artwork for her as a thank-you gift a year or two ago, I remember. But this was news to me. Why can't he balance his own accounts anymore? It can't be related to his vision, that's been fixed since Feb. Can he not do that sort of math anymore? Not even with a calculator? (Does he OWN a calculator?) What else can he no longer do for himself, that he isn't talking about? I was so surprised and dismayed, I didn't manage to ask him why he wasn't doing it himself now, but I'm not sure he'd tell me even if I asked. I'm thinking that, even if he objects, it might be time for me to go out sometime later this summer for a few days so I can monitor him more directly, and see what he can and cannot do. His neighbors told Mom back in Feb that despite occasional moments of confusion, he still could live alone and function fine, but has that changed? And it's not like they see him 24/7, either (although they *were* seeing him more often back when they were shuttling him back and forth to doctor's appointments).
I'm hoping against hope that the next time I talk to him, he'll be able to give a non-worrying reason for her doing this for him, but ... I'm doubtful I'll be that lucky. Wibble.
Note: MiniPlu wrote out her responses (I corrected her spelling :P) and later revised some of her answers, but Two dictated his, on the spot.
MiniPlu's responses, age almost-13:
1. What is something mom always says to you?
"Hand it over. Two isn't your responsibility." (Me: She means, I literally hold out my hand and have her pretend she's actually handing me her attempt to parent her brother - which he strenuously objects to - and letting ME handle him.
2. What makes mom happy?
Suprises (cleaning, birthdays), good behavior, academic achievements and handling a situation like an adult.
3. What makes mom sad?
Negative tactics towards her (sassing, yelling, eyerolling, brattiness - yeah, Im really annoying).
4. How does your mom make you laugh?
Good jokes, tickling, funny actions or something said.
5. What was your mom like as a child?
Ummm ... she did hula and singing and was a goody-two-shoes. (Me: Yep, I won the senior class award for that last one. :P)
6. How old is your mom?
2015
- 1971
44 Oh, God, I'm a horrible child (me: referring to the fact that she didn't automatically know this. Also, she was wrong - I'll be 44 tomorrow but was 43 at the time she took this).
7. How tall is your mom?
IDK 5'5"? (me: only off by half an inch! I'm 5'4.5")
8. What is her favorite thing to do?
Quality family time or time with dad and away from the little monsters (Psst it's Two and me :-P)
9. What does your mom do when you're not around?
Volunteer in, like, 7 things, clean, cook, go on the computer doing 90 things there and, if she's really lucky, a nap.
10. If your mom becomes famous, what will it be for?
Draco in Darkness (or another Harry Potter Fan fiction.) (Me: She saw a feedback email for DID a back in May and asked what "Draco In Darkness" was so I told her. She asked to read it and, after some thought, I said yes, but I haven't remembered to give her the link yet, and need to think of a way of doing it so she won't stumble into my p0rn fic afterwards.)
11. What is your mom really good at?
Cooking, baking, sewing, TKD, being a mom, packing, being a genuinely nice person to lean on (unless I'm mad at her and then she's the worst person in the universe).
12. What is your mom not very good at?
HAVING A GOOD BREATH! That is, like, my biggest pet peeve. (Me: Clearly, I need to stock up on mints :P). Fashion, but every once in a while it's, like, what did you do to my mom!
13. What does your mom do for a job?
Oh, God, she has the hardest job out there ... motherhood. Dun, dun, dun! (Me: Darned right!)
14. What is your mom's favorite food?
Gluten free pastries and Uncle Rob's baking (Me: Not even close on the last one. I mean, yes, I like his cookies and his apple pie, but I have to cheat in order to eat those, and I like my banana bread much better than his. Sorry - I prefer my own baking.)
15. What makes you proud of your mom?
She puts up with our crap and we give her loads of it and somehow she is still sane. She's also skilled at lots of things and she can hula.
16. If your mom were a character, who would she be?
Bess from Nancy Drew because she's a goody two shoes but up for an adventure.
17. What do you and your mom do together?
Talk, walk, color, play games.
18. How are you and your mom the same?
Same hobby interests, generally. (Me: Uh, really? I can hardly think of any hobbies we share!)
19. How are you and your mom different?
Me: Super perfectionist and fashion queen.
Mom: Medium perfectionist and unfashion queen (Me: my devotion to jeans and t-shirts has always been a thorn in her side.)
20. How do you know your mom loves you?
Affection.
21. What does your mom like most about your dad?
Uh, his personality? and, ummm ... oh for God's sakes IDK :-P
22. Where is your mom's favorite place to go?
Library, museums, touristy sites.
23. How old was your mom when you were born?
2002
- 1971
31
Two's responses, age 11.4:
1. What is something mom always says to you?
"Stop/don't do that/don't complain
2. What makes mom happy?
Me not arguing.
3. What makes mom sad?
Arguing and when people forget her birthday. (Me: Heh, I was just pouting today that I'd only received one card in the mail.)
4. How does your mom make you laugh?
By reading me stories that are funny.
5. What was your mom like as a child?
Always had to ride her bike to school. (Me: This should have been listed under "Things Mom always says to you" - in my attempt to guilt them into being more independent. Not that it's working.)
6. How old is your mom?
43
7. How tall is your mom?
5'5" (this seems to be their universal thought)
8. What is her favorite thing to do?
Read books and tell us what not to do (Me: I sense a theme, don't you?)
9. What does your mom do when you're not around?
Play with the puppy.
10. If your mom becomes famous, what will it be for?
Writing a parenting book.
11. What is your mom really good at?
Reading and walking the dog (Me: he means "simultaneously" - I've actually got a significant reputation in the neighborhood for doing this, is it really that amazing?)
12. What is your mom not very good at?
Making me calm down after an argument. (Me: Sigh - I do try, but sometimes he really resists being comforted!)
13. What does your mom do for a job?
She's a mom/she works in the library.
14. What is your mom's favorite food?
Spaghetti.
15. What makes you proud of your mom?
She understands transgenderness. (Me: Yes, that was the word he used. :D)
16. If your mom were a character, who would she be?
Cinderella. (Me: The truth hurts :-P)
17. What do you and your mom do together?
Stories and stuffie talks.
18. How are you and your mom the same?
We both like the Theodosia books.
19. How are you and your mom different?
I'm trans and she's not.
20. How do you know your mom loves you?
She lets me be who I want to be. (Me: except when he wants to be a completely uncivilized hooligan.)
21. What does your mom like most about your dad?
His lovingness for her.
22. Where is your mom's favorite place to go?
California. (Me: not unless it's Tahoe City or the House in SF. Although I do like visiting people in CA.)
23. How old was your mom when you were born?
32
On an unrelated note: while I was typing this up, the puppy barfed up her dinner (which she ate hours ago) on her non-washable bed. Sigh. Hopefully spray cleaner will take care of the smell. She barfed again when I took her outside, and made a valiant effort to re-eat both piles, EWWW. I hope she just ate something weird, as puppies do, and that this is an isolated incident.
I also finished reading Rose this afternoon. Cute story, and I like how the bratty kids started being more like friends with her. My only real complaint, aside from the fact that the villain's evil theories were never properly explained, was that the story ended a little abruptly for me. I'll probably read the sequels at some point, however.
Also, because I don't think I've mentioned it yet, I'm worried about my dad. During my usual Sun evening call to him, he asked me if I would write a thank-you note to his favorite/usual bank teller for going above and beyond the call of duty. Why?
Because he cannot balance his account anymore, and she's been doing it for him. For awhile.
Now, I knew she'd been very helpful to him in the past, for more routine things, including making sure I was listed on all his accounts so I won't have trouble dealing with the bank when he dies. He'd done a little artwork for her as a thank-you gift a year or two ago, I remember. But this was news to me. Why can't he balance his own accounts anymore? It can't be related to his vision, that's been fixed since Feb. Can he not do that sort of math anymore? Not even with a calculator? (Does he OWN a calculator?) What else can he no longer do for himself, that he isn't talking about? I was so surprised and dismayed, I didn't manage to ask him why he wasn't doing it himself now, but I'm not sure he'd tell me even if I asked. I'm thinking that, even if he objects, it might be time for me to go out sometime later this summer for a few days so I can monitor him more directly, and see what he can and cannot do. His neighbors told Mom back in Feb that despite occasional moments of confusion, he still could live alone and function fine, but has that changed? And it's not like they see him 24/7, either (although they *were* seeing him more often back when they were shuttling him back and forth to doctor's appointments).
I'm hoping against hope that the next time I talk to him, he'll be able to give a non-worrying reason for her doing this for him, but ... I'm doubtful I'll be that lucky. Wibble.