Remember “Mother, May I?”
A random thought that came to me today on Mother’s Day…
Remember that childhood game 
of “Mother, May I?” where one player (mother) gives a command to one of the other kids and the player has to ask “mother, may I?” before following the instructions, or they are out?
I remember giant steps and scissor steps and backwards step and sideways steps and umbrella steps…
It was all about asking permission first.
It was also about following directions as well!
Do we still ask for permission first? Whom do we ask? Why do we ask?
I also recall a phrase that now as an adult I like better: “It is better to ask for forgiveness than for permission!”
And do we still have to follow someone else’s directions? What if we think there is a faster or better or more fun way?
It was, back then, probably a good idea to learn how to both ask permission and follow directions. Even the schools taught it. Remember asking to go to the bathroom, learning how to stand in line, having to raise your hand in order to speak, having to wait to take your turn?
But how about now?
As an entrepreneur (having first a bookstore and later a chocolate store), I remember a lot of “winging it” and improvising! And though no one gave us permission, no one said “no” either.
Each of these fascinating experiences was an internal and personal decision. (and a lot of fun!) Of course, they were also great learning experiences: like what worked and what didn’t work, like what I liked to do and what I didn’t like to do.
And I do believe that sometimes it was my internal chatterbox and sometimes my internal still, small voice that I listened to.
Maybe I listened to that Chatterbox that is always telling us to be careful and not to take risks,
or to that Still, Small Voice that we can hear when we get calm and quiet.
For we are our own parents now…choosing and deciding what we want and how we are going to get it. We of course also get to live with the consequences of the choices we make.
But I wasn’t really thrilled with most of the consequences I was given by others as I grew up. At least as an adult, I don’t have the same resistance to the lessons! After all, I chose them!
So how are doing with that “permission” rule and that” following directions” rule?
And what have you learned? What have you enjoyed? I’d love to hear from you! Comment below and/or share with a friend!
4 Comments
Today, I still find a need to ask for guidance and in a sense permission,but my Mother is no longer here. I ask and listen for the quiet voice within. If I fail to ask, I sometimes regret the outcome.
When I listen patiently to the voice within I’ve noticed that life turns out for the good for whatever is involved. I have come to have great faith in the still small voice within. I miss my Mom but am thankful for her sharing of love and guidance while I had her presence.
Gail, thanks for sharing. It seems as if we are now our own mother, still able to be guided by that internalized wisdom.
Isn’t it funny how once our mother is no longer with us many of us still look and listen for her responses! I often ponder a situation and think of how would my mother and grandmother for that matter have handled this situation – my grandmother was my idol and full of wisdom. I like to let my thoughts go around in my head for awhile and then usually the right answer comes, and this blog makes me realize it is a combination of so much!
Tish, it’s great to have your sharing. I have to admit that as I became an adult, and later a mom, I always felt too young to deal with some of those crises and to make some of those difficult decisions. I wanted MY MOM!
Now we ARE the Moms! I’m sure grateful for all the lessons from my mother that are now internalized in my head and heart!