Meet My Mother

Last week I told you what happened when Sweet Cub (SC) met my son. Whew! I was so glad when that was over.

"OK love," SC said, "now I'd like you to meet my family." Umm... why? At this point in our relationship I didn't see the need to meet his family. After all, we were now a couple for a mere 3 months. What's the hurry?

Rats! SC didn't see it that way. "Hey doll, I had to deal with the stress of meeting your son so he'd know I wasn't some weirdo trying to bilk you out of your 401k, so now it's your turn to show my mom that you're not a vampire sucking the best years of my life from me. (NB: unfortunately, before she and I met, his mom really thought that I was a daughter of Dracula.)

WHY IS IT THAT...
...meet the parents is so filled with emotions like Dread, Anguish, Fear, Loathing (usually of self, because, how will you -- a mere mortal -- be able to match the expectations of parents dating their darling?).

So when the dreadful day arrived I decided to dress appropriately, like a teenager, in shorts and a t-shirt. We planned to have Sunday dinner at his mom's house. It was a hot, soggy August day, so a dress, heels and a beehive updo would not be appropriate.

 Dinner would include his mom, sister, SC and I. I figured that I would be the Sunday roast. Actually, it turned out fine. Sure, I was grilled about where I work, what I did, how old was I, were my parents still alive, how old was I, where was I born, do I have children, how old was I... do I have grandchildren? Yikes, the BIG question. "Yes, I have two.  See, SC's mom, you could be a great-grandma, instantly!" Of course, I didn't say that. I'm not cruel (nor was I even remotely interested in marrying. Marriage is not generally reserved for Cougars.)

Like son and SC, Mom and I have made peace with one another. After all, we've had 13 years to work on it.

COUGARS IN THE NEWS
My Blog friend (The Angry List, www.angrylist.blogspot.com) sent me an article that originally appeared in Woman's Day magazine. Woman's Day! The bastion of all that's holy in wedlock and traditional couplings wrote a story about Cougars! And it was positive!

The article, "Do Relationships Between Older Women and Younger Men Work", [http://womansday.ninemsn.com.au/relationships/1058110/Do-relationships-between-older-women-and-younger-men-work],quotes that "Older women have had relationships with younger men since history began. But in the past only aristocratic, rich, famous or powerful women were able to do so and survive the condemnation from society," says Valerie Gibson, author of Cougar, A Guide For Older Women Dating Younger Men (www.valeriegibson.com)." The article, along with some other interesting data suggests, just like more traditional relationships, a Cougar/Cub relationship will work only if two people are honest, open and transparent with one another. Duh!

Dear friends, I hope all your relationships are honest, open and transparent, cuz those are the only one's that will work.

With love to all,
Marilyn