the village idiot

That's me - the Village Idiot!.  Or at least that is what I have become accustomed to.  When the "Mommy" reached the age of ten or eleven, the pediatrician informed me that I was about to become the stupidest person in the world.  I would remain that way until my children reached early adulthood at a minimum.  I chuckled a bit.  I shouldn't have.  He was right!  From age 35 to ... well, let's just say that for some of them, I am still the Village Idiot.

I could give my children absolutely brilliant advice about friends, romance, school, scholarships, church... pick any topic.  They would listen or pretend to listen and look at me like I was some poor delusional woman.  Then all to often, they would head out and do exactly what they wanted or thought was best. 

I found one small loophole in this process.  Another adult, unrelated to them could tell them exactly what I said and light bulbs would go off.  Fireworks would spew into the air as the realization of the truth in that person's words was revealed to them.  It was a miracle! At first, I was highly offended by this.  It took me a little while to realize that I could use this to my advantage.  Sometimes I did, sometimes I chose to let them learn a bit of a tough lesson.  Tough lessons and the consequences sometimes teach more than sage advice. 

It was also difficult to get angry with my kids for their lack of response to my advice.  I am pretty sure that it is a genetic issue.  The "Doc" did the same thing.  I could discuss something with him and was dismissed in a very nice fashion.  I would see more red than a bull when he would come a few days later with a brilliant revelation given to him by a colleague or friend.

They do say that ignorance is bliss.  In my case it works as long as I work with it.  I am still hopeful that some day I will regain my intelligence completely.  That will probably happen right before Alzheimer's or senility sets in!