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PARENTS INHERIT INSANITY FROM THEIR CHILDREN
BY: MARK ANTHONY ROSOLOWSKI


Now that title, may or may not be true, but I have heard it so often that I just felt like I had to address it. In actuality I feel it is the opposite, kids become insane because of their parents.

I can remember my childhood; my mother was like all other mothers, she was a neat freak. I can remember her coming into my room, she would say, "Look at this mess"; my response was for safety, "What mess?" Mom would then raise her voice a little, and ask "Did I raise you in a barn", my response would be, "Nooooo, noooooo", my sister would start to laugh, mom would look at her and ask, "What are you laughing at", my sister not wanting to be out done by me would look at mom and say, "Naaaaahthing, Naaaaaahthing." When I was born mom had blonde hair, by the time I graduated high school she was gray. I often wonder if we had anything to do with it.

Then there are the times I would come home late knowing I was in trouble, I would enter the house my mother would look at me and say, “I don’t want to know where you were, or what you were doing, just get to your room.” As I was walking away she would say, “Where have you been”, I would look at her and say, “Mom, I thought you didn’t want to know.” A sharp smack was delivered as she asked, “Tell me where you were”, so I started, “Well mom, there was this hot tub, 20 kids...” she would stop me “I do not want to hear this” my older brother would come in the room give me a high five and ask me to tell him about it...When I was born mom did not have a nervous twitch, I wonder if I had anything to do with it.

Then there was the broken lamp in the living room, mom would yell, “How many times do I have to tell you not to play ball in the house”, I answer, “Well mom you should...” she would tell me to be quiet and not to interrupt her when she was talking, she would continue, “Do you think money grows on trees, do you think I work just to throw money away do you have any idea how much that lamp cost?” I stand there quietly, and I hear, “Well answer me?” I reply “Mom you just told me to be quiet.” Mom then started to yell, “Get your sorry be... you sorry self to your.....um room stay there and umm you know think about what you did”. Before I was born mom could complete a coherent sentence, I wonder if I had anything to do with that.

Walking in the house and past mom I would get asked, "Is that cigarette smoke I smell", quick on the answer, "No mom". Then it would start. "Don't lie to me, I got a phone call from Mrs. Smith, she told me you and Paul wee smoking". I reply, "So mom, if you knew already why did you ask." It was a good thing I could duck fast, but I was not lucky enough to remember not to get up quickly because of the backhand completion of the swing. I do not think mom had high blood pressure before I was born, but by the time I was 15 she sure did; I wonder what my contribution to this was.

Then mom would ask questions that were not to be answered, these included, “Am I speaking a foreign language? (What mom, I didn't understand you). Am I talking to the walls? (Mom are you talking to me?). Do you think I am just talking to hear myself talk? (Well, no one else wants to hear). What am I going to do with you? (You don't know either mom; well that makes two of us). Do you want me to give you something to cry about? (Mom I am already crying, therefore I already have something to cry about). Do you want a good spanking?" (No mom I would rather have a bad spanking, and could you please explain the difference). My mother use to smile a lot before I was born, I wonder if I had anything to do with it.

Of course you have to add in the sleepless nights mom had when I was sick, the worrying she did when I was late. The compassion she had when my hamster died. The extra running around she did to make sure I had the right tux for the prom. Being there when my heart was broken. Being both a mom and a dad to me after my father died. The love she gave when I succeeded at a task. The support she gave for me to try again when I failed. Well, before I came mom was sane, now that I am older I think there is insanity in our family. To put up with all she went through to have children and not to have killed us must be proof of insanity.

Well I just talked myself into it, the old saying is correct, parents do inherit insanity from their children but the curse of parents always comes true too and I have passed it to my children, “I hope you have one just like you someday”

Mom, I love you and thanks for putting up with me.