Bad Idea Genes, and Things I No Longer Believe

[malawry]

So, apparently I am positive for the BRCA-1 genetic mutation. So I'm at high risk for ovarian cancer on top of an 87% risk for breast cancer. (Uh, glad I already got the breast cancer out of the way? Is that what I'm supposed to say

Comments

[malawry]

Nobody likes being told they can't do something as personal as having a child.

I know Colin will think I'm super-old when he's old enough to articulate that. I thought my folks were old, but now I'm amazed at how young they were when they had me and Adam.

I really hated it when people acted sensitive about their age back when I was a kid. I wanted to be able to talk honestly about age with people older than myself and I didn't want age to be this big taboo. I mean, I could tell by looking at somebody if they were older than me, and I have always detested age-guessing games. I made myself some promises when I was a kid, and they included things like honoring honest questions and not being cagey about how old I am. (I also promised myself I'd never let fear of exposing my body keep me from swimming with my kids the way my mom did, that I'd respect my child's right to not like some foods, that I'd take my kid seriously most of the time, that I wouldn't use baby talk with children.) So far I'm holding up my bargain.

While I clearly disagree with some of the ways my parents behaved around me, those really aren't huge deal things, you know? And my mom is a DAMN SIGHT better than HER mom, who was and remains a total piece of work. I love my grandma, but I don't always respect her behavior. My mom, and by extension I myself, is evidence that you can decide to fix the big problems your parents inflicted on you when you get a turn with your own kids.