Last weekend I enjoyed a lovely day with my favorite teenager. I picked her up and we went into the city to visit the 808 Gallery. On the way there I told her the news of my election to presidency. She was so excited, and I felt really proud that I could be a woman in her life who holds a role like this so she can see it can happen. My friend Jenn and her husband and kids joined us at 808 Gallery (limited pics because I didn’t ask if I could share photos of her kids).
After breezing through the photos, Jenn and her fam when on their way, and I toured Little through the extremely cool parts of the building.
From there, we went for some dumplings and crab rangoon. We rated the dumplings 6 out of 10. The best soup dumplings we’d ever had were at Happy Dumpling in Lowell and these didn’t compare. We also tried taro dumplings for the first time and they were interesting! I love that she’s always so game to try new things with me.
Over lunch I told her about how I’d seen photos of myself at our in-person board meeting, and how I looked grumpy in all the photos. I made a joke about it via email to the board members, “So I guess I just always looked pissed?” to which Mark responded:
It’s a determined leader look. All great women leaders in history had this same look.
Ruth Bader Ginsburg
Queen Elizabeth
Margaret Thatcher
Madeline Albright
Mother Theresa
Cydney Scott
I don’t see an issue here.
After I got that response I felt embarrassed, replying to all in the email thread, “I see now how my comment was delivered as “make me feel better!” which was not my intent. Still, I appreciate the perspective you delivered!”
I told L about this exchange and we talked about our faces and how they just are. She told me that sometimes friends tell her she looks mad, “and that’s just my face!” I told her about how it makes me feel a bit insecure that I look so serious if I’m not smiling, but that also, I’m not going to sit in front of a mirror studying my face and practicing expressions so others find me more approachable.
A few days later I was out with Mom, and I mentioned that my only real insecure feature is my weak chin. “You could get a lift” Mom said, adding that many women had. I thought about it but only for a fleeting moment. How could I look my Little in the face and tell her I altered myself rather than simply accept and like myself for all my other good reasons, most of which don’t have anything to do with my appearance? No, there are better more important thing to worry myself with. (No judgement to those who choose to go this route, BTW. You do you!)
We went back to my place to visit Harlow and give her some love, and make some chocolate chip cookies with oats and Rice Krispies. We both agree that they would be more interesting with more krispies!
BEAN'S BABBLETORIUM 