Monday, January 30, 2012

Unhelpful Monday Observation

Yesterday we were all getting ready for church and my son didn't want to sit still for a second to let my husband do his hair. He was too busy. I glanced over after my husband tried his hardest and my son rushed off and I said, "That looks awful." He agreed. So as soon as I was done getting ready, I went to try to make the boy presentable. There was one section on top that wasn't working right. Finally, after trying for a few minutes, I realized......

"Did you cut your hair??" I asked him.

"No."

"Yes you did. When did you do this?"

"Last night when [13 year old] was babysitting."

My husband, taking a breath of relief from the other side of the bathroom, said, "Thank goodness. I thought he was going bald."

It was so funny to me that my husband and I came to two totally different conclusions. And, of course, my conclusion was right (like always), but it got me thinking about how fears and experience play a part in how we interpret life or the stories we read. We can write stories but we have no control over how those stories will be interpreted by the reader because everyone brings their own experiences with them. What's my point? I don't know. I rarely have a point. It was just an observation. Plus, I wanted to make fun of my husband. He thought my five year old was going bald. Ha!



22 comments:

  1. That is so funny! Leave it to the mom to get to the bottom of it. :)

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    1. Yes, Super Mom to the rescue. :) Although it was too little too late.

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  2. That made me laugh! And yes, I'm laughing at Jared just a little bit.

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    1. Just a little?? Why not a lot? He likes to be laughed at....or with....I don't remember which.

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  3. LOL! You make a very good point. The conclusions we jump to are totally based on our own fears and perceptions about life. Same would apply to our characters, too--another way we can add depth to them.

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    1. So true, Linda. I'm glad you found a point in my nonsense. :)

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  4. Funny stuff!! Sound like an episode right out of my household, right down to me making fun of my husband (out of love, of course)!

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  5. That sounds about right. Husband was relieved, Wife was typically mother. Great point to realize that different characters react to different situations.

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    1. I know, right? It is all very typical. It makes me laugh.

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  6. That? That is a funny story. You bring up a good point though. The toughest thing to wrap my head around is the idea that, once my memoir is out there, other people will freely interpret my story and life. Scary, but that's the gig.

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    1. Yes they will. You have no idea the way I see you now, Brock. No idea. :)

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  7. Are you going to spank your 13 year old?

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  8. Too funny. And great observation. Our experiences do define how we interpret things.

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    1. So true. I guess that's what makes the world a great place though--so many different views.

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  9. I love this observation! Sweet and hilarious. It really does make me wonder how readers will interpret my protagonist. I wanted her be so many things all rolled into one. Now you've got me hoping readers think she's at least capable. Do you find it harder writing for a teen audience? Teens need to relate but also be able to escape into the world of your telling, what's your take on interpretation under hormonal attack? Ha!

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    1. LOL That's funny. No, I don't find it harder to write for teens, but then again, it's all I have ever written for.

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    2. Also, I'm sure your protagonist will come off fine. We can't control how other people interpret our writing, but if you love her then she'll be great.

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  10. Haha, so funny. Most mom's would assume he cut his hair, and most men would think like your husband. :) Great point about interpretation and perspective. :)

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    1. It just never even crossed my mind so when he said it, I found it so funny.

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  11. If you're going to use my blog for free advertising, the least you could do was leave a fun comment. :)

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