Acceptance...

I had a moment yesterday.

It dawned on me that exactly 22 years ago, yesterday, I moved out into my very first apartment.
I was 17 and had just graduated from High school the day before.
There were so many reasons why I moved out so fast after graduation.
But suffice it to say that it was time.
I was officially ON MY OWN.
No one could tell me what to do.
Wow-- was I mature or what?!

Then it happend.

I looked at my oldest daughter, yesterday, and realized that I was exactly HER AGE when I did all that.

How can that be?
Surely she isn't as mature as I was at her age...?
Truly... I couldn't have been...
like...

her...

age.

wow.
I WAS HER AGE,

AND...
if I'm being honest here...
SHE is probably more mature now than I was even when I had her.

Life has a funny way of humbling me at odd moments.

Achilles and I were camped out on our bed, just lounging around talking ...kids coming in and out just to chat about mundane silly things.....
(sidenote:: Can't tell you how great that felt... it has litereally been weeks since we've touched base.)

Anyway-
We were discussing 'dating policies' for our girls... when Achilles began asking pointed questions about the boy that M has been dating lately.....and most of it was with an air of disgust.

M's new beau has long hair.
And Achilles can't stand that.

Given M's more recent dating experiences... I can't really blame Achilles for being skeptical...but I felt I owed it to M and to this kid she's dating to help Achilles see that just because his hair is ugly doesn't mean he isn't a good kid.

Achilles: What does she see in him??? His hair is awful.
Me: So, what? He's active in church, is saving for a mission... his brother just got back from one. At any rate, if he's going on a mission-- we dont' have to worry about the serious stuff until he's back, right?
Achilles: He looks like a girl.
Me: But she's happy when she's with him. Sure beats the pants off that last guy...
Achilles: Ghengis Kahn beats the pants off that guy.
Me: Seriously tho. Wouldn't you rather go out with someone she says that she's just friends with?
Achilles: He's not worthy of her.
Me: Name someone who is.
Achilles: ::::Silence::::
Me: Exactly. No one. So wouldn't you rather it be Mr. Hair?
Achilles: No, I would rather he pick out "PrettyPretty Princess" game and we could have family time....like the old days.
Me: I think she's past Pretty Pretty Princess, hun. Our baby is growing up and we have to let her make her own mistakes.
Achilles: No.
E: (who'd been listening to this conversation with much interest..) I'LL Play Pretty Pretty Princess with you, Daddy.
Achilles: :::glancing over at me, in humble resignation:::: I'd love to, Sweetie.

Later that night, after dating girls were home and kids were all tucked in...

Achilles: "You know, the time will come all too soon when Pretty Pretty Princess will be too young for E , too. I don't think I'm ready for that."
Me: Well, maybe about that time, we'll have granddaughters.
Achilles: :::rolling eyes:::: Great. Just bump me up to 'Grandpa' status today too. Anything else??? How 'bout you put lemon juice in this papercut I just got today????