Bad Habits

Bad Habits

My mother spent a lot of time trying to teach me
to avoid bad habits
like chewing with my mouth open
or using bad grammar
or spending money on frivolous things
or laughing too loudly
or sitting with my legs apart (it wasn't lady-like)
or walking too fast (it wasn't graceful)
or putting off studying for a test until the last minute
or not standing up straight
or sewing hurried, uneven stitches (hers were always perfect)
or trusting boys who wanted to kiss me.

I knew my mother knew every thing about everything
what was right and what was wrong and what was good and what was bad
so I tried hard to learn everything she wanted to teach me
but I never could seem to get it all quite right.
Finally I decided my mother was too particular.

One day I became the mother
and I spent a lot of time trying to teach my children
to avoid bad habits
like chewing with their mouths open
or using bad grammar
or spending money on frivolous things
or . . . . . . .