I may not be Jewish but I am a mother

Well, it happened. I turned into the stereotype of a Jewish mother. I won’t apologize (even though I’m not Jewish). Four weeks without a call from a son off at college is long enough to complain about. I actually found myself saying, “So, you don’t call, you don’t write….”
What is notable is that it worked! I now get a call at least every couple of weeks letting me know he is alive. Not much else, but at least that he is alive.

Now this son does call occasionally for advice, (“Mom, how long do I need to cook the red beans.”) but other than that he is pretty independent. He does his own thing and I don’t think he likes his mother voicing her opinion on his college “activities”.

Of course as a liberal in a family full of conservatives he does come under fire quite a lot. Or rather he would if he voiced his opinions. Perhaps through survival instinct, he doesn’t share his philosophy with his siblings too often. When he does, table conversation gets pretty lively. Between the career soldier older brother and the somewhat legalistic younger sister things can get heated quickly.

I am happy to say that, when we are able to spend some time together, we truly share some deep political and spiritual ideas. He knows where I stand, but he also knows I will not reject him for his ideals. I suspect he stops short of telling me anything I would get alarmed over. Maybe that is a good thing. I found out with my oldest two, that I really don’t need to know everything; especially long after the fact when I can’t do anything about it except be upset. Someone told them long ago to wait two years after you have done something your parents would not approve of before you tell them about it, and they took it to heart. I’d like to talk to that guy!

I hope that my son, as well as my other children, knows that I love him unconditionally, regardless of dogma. If there is one childrearing philosophy that I would share with all families, it is that if you make sure your children know you love them no matter what, and raise them in knowledge and hope of the Lord, that everything else will work itself out.