back to top html arrow button

If I were you...

Monday, November 8, 2010

If I were you I would never speak the way you do.
If I were you I would never allow my children to see.
But you are you.
And I am me.


If I were you I'd change some things.
If I were you I would never allow my child to sing what your child sings.
If I were you I'd put my husband in his place.
If I were you I'd change my face.


Fortuitous life mine seems to be
For you are you and I am me.


If I were you, I'd be sad and blue.
If I were you I'd see no way to be happy.
But you are you.
And I am me.


If I were you I would hide my head in shame.
If I were you I would crumble when those others called me names.
If I were you I would change, oh..this and that.
If I were you I'd work harder to not be fat.


Propitious karma shines through for me
For you are you and I am me.


If I were you I would never allow
My children to act so foul.
If I were you I'd limit their t.v. time and video games.
If I were you I'd never have given them those names.


Lucky for my children I am their mother.
And for them there is no other.
For you are you and I am me.
Life is as it was meant to be.


So remember when you try to share
All your wisdom, I do not care.
My life is just fine.
And those children...they are mine.


Lucky lucky I seem to be
For you are you and I AM ME.


It's funny, other people always seem to think that your circumstances would be, or could be, or should be handled differently.  It's fine to offer suggestions or help to your family or friends, but repeatedly telling someone that they should do it this way instead of their way can cross the line.

14 comments:

Shell said...

Beautifully put, my friend.

It's so easy for any of us to say "If I were you..." or "her" or whoever we are talking about...and say how we would do things different and of course, better.

But, in reality, we don't know what we would really do. And we don't ever fully know someone else's situation to be able to make comments like that.

Mae Rae said...

very well put. i will say when you are on...you are ON!

Loving the recipes though. I have not had much time to comment but the hubby prints off a lot of the recipes from share a spoon.

Yankee Girl said...

*applause*

I think this is so hard for people to remember. And they SHOULD remember. Your life is no one else's business.

Andrea said...

AMEN to that! Beautifully written. Thank you for sharing with us all.

Kim of Mo Betta said...

I'll drink to that! And of course my nosy self is wondering what inspired that post. I don't like people telling me what to do. Ever. I've been like that since I was a child! Sometimes people mean well but if I want someone's advice I'll ask for it. Or google it :)

KristinFilut said...

You're a poet!

Well said, Momma. Well said!

Ducky said...

Fantastically written! Never can one fully understand the situation of another until they've experienced it themselves. We aren't always privy to all the information that goes into a situation or the bits and pieces that make up the whole of what we see in front of us. It would behoove us all to remember this before opening our mouths!

Much love to you my friend!

Anonymous said...

Amen! I get tired of all the "free" advice I get to do the mothering gig "right."

Actually, I'm tired no matter what!

Ha!

gayle said...

What a Great Great Post!!!!!!! I do need to learn to keep my mouth shut as far as my daughters are concerned!

June said...

Very well said Momma B, indeed.

Imaginative Me said...

Wow! I LOVE this so much!

Holly Lefevre said...

Ain't that the truth! I try very hard not to do this, because I know I do some wacky things. I find it very interesting that in some of the baby classes I take my kiddo to, are these women who profess to being all open minded and accepting and they are the most judgmental (that is a whole blog post).

Nancy C said...

Word, my sister.

Lothiriel said...

BRAVO!!!
I had to tell my mother that just last week! She thinks it's ok to lecture everyone and tell them what they should do. It is always easier when it's not you making the decision.