Pseudo-Celebrities Need Not Apply

I'm adamant about knowing the true meaning of words before I use them. I tried not to, but yes - I looked up the meaning of adamant.

It's my mama's fault. Anytime I asked the definition of a word she told me to, "go see Webster". Depending on the situation, she'd take it a step further and force me to pull out an encyclopedia.

My relationship with Webster today is just as strong as it was back then. I've ditched Britannica for Google, but sometimes invite thefreedictionary.com to participate in a threesome.

And while I get really turned on by all of them, there are instances when I simply want to satisfy my own needs. I want to do me.

I've never looked up the meaning of success in any dictionary. I insist every person define that word for themselves. I didn't realize until today that I have the same philosophy regarding the word famous and have either directly or indirectly instilled it in my teenage daughter.

The Girl sent me this text today:

"We are doing a project over entrepreneurs and I asked my teacher if I could do the PowerPoint over you and I showed her your website and she said no. /: then she asked what you did and I told her to go do her research lol. She said I can't do you because it has to be someone famous, I said she is. She be all on the news programs lol." 

 Alrighty then. I'm certain if you flip to the word famous in the dictionary you won't find a picture of me. But apparently, in The Girl's edition I'm listed (thank you baby!).

Aren't teachers, politicians, and the rest of society constantly barking at parents to stop shoving "famous" people in front of our kids as examples of role models? But when they do, they're met with, "I'm sorry. For this intent and purpose your 'almost famous' mama doesn't count".

What the hell?!

If I sincerely believed this would have a long-term negative impact on my child, I'd give the teacher the opportunity to tell me to my face my baby girl shouldn't think so highly of me. In essence, that's exactly what she's saying. "It's really nice you think being on the local news makes your mama famous, but until she's on TMZ, Dancing With The Stars, or The View - go sit down!"

I'm not the least bit angry. I'm smiling from ear to ear, beaming from the inside out. Elated that my daughter not only has a mind and opinion of her own, but more importantly, she isn't afraid to share it.

Wonder where she gets that from??

  

photo: bbrotherblog