Comments on: The New Mystique http://www.runningland.com/2005/06/19/the-new-mystique/ wisdom and tripe from a lifetime runner Tue, 06 Jan 2009 14:13:43 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7 hourly 1 By: Eric http://www.runningland.com/2005/06/19/the-new-mystique/comment-page-1/#comment-139 Eric Wed, 22 Jun 2005 04:16:57 +0000 http://www.runningland.com/2005/06/19/the-new-mystique/#comment-139 My own boys, aka the wrecking crew, are 10 and 7. They are a handful. Overall, I suspect the grandparent phenomenon in part reflects greater wealth and options for the seniors. At one time, a quorum of seniors (classically a widowed mother-in-law) had to move in with their children. This generated a lot of unpleasant sit-com fodder; I suspect we can all be grateful our parents aren't THAT involved in the kids lives. The current batch of grandparents seems to enjoy keeping their distance a bit more. That is perhaps understandable, but also something of a loss. My running-partner is a new grandfather (also faster than I am), I'll be sure to ask where he stands on this in the coming year. Run well, Eric My own boys, aka the wrecking crew, are 10 and 7. They are a handful.

Overall, I suspect the grandparent phenomenon in part reflects greater wealth and options for the seniors. At one time, a quorum of seniors (classically a widowed mother-in-law) had to move in with their children. This generated a lot of unpleasant sit-com fodder; I suspect we can all be grateful our parents aren’t THAT involved in the kids lives. The current batch of grandparents seems to enjoy keeping their distance a bit more. That is perhaps understandable, but also something of a loss. My running-partner is a new grandfather (also faster than I am), I’ll be sure to ask where he stands on this in the coming year.

Run well, Eric

]]> By: Joan http://www.runningland.com/2005/06/19/the-new-mystique/comment-page-1/#comment-138 Joan Tue, 21 Jun 2005 12:54:28 +0000 http://www.runningland.com/2005/06/19/the-new-mystique/#comment-138 Eric, you are wise to ask "did something just happen?" Actually, it is more like the straw that broke the camel's back. In this group of moms I run with, I have been conducting my own informal interviews over the years (perhaps a future book?) and I keep hearing the same story over and over about their/our absentee mothers. On a long run the other day we started theorizing about WHY this is the case. Of course, I thought of my own mother traveling around the world on her cruises yet missing piano recitals and first communions and baptisms and birthday parties. She never left the neighborhood when she was raising us - so, of course, she wants to see the world (like I did in my 20's when I was traveling all over for races). It wasn't until this summer, when I went to buy tampons for my eldest, that I realized my mother has missed it all. The "raw nerve" you mention is that I had hoped to share my daughters with my own mother more. Its almost over, really, and I am sad that all of our mothers don't want more of what I consider essential in life. Please tell me of your experiece as a parent. curious, joan Eric, you are wise to ask “did something just happen?” Actually, it is more like the straw that broke the camel’s back. In this group of moms I run with, I have been conducting my own informal interviews over the years (perhaps a future book?) and I keep hearing the same story over and over about their/our absentee mothers. On a long run the other day we started theorizing about WHY this is the case. Of course, I thought of my own mother traveling around the world on her cruises yet missing piano recitals and first communions and baptisms and birthday parties. She never left the neighborhood when she was raising us - so, of course, she wants to see the world (like I did in my 20’s when I was traveling all over for races). It wasn’t until this summer, when I went to buy tampons for my eldest, that I realized my mother has missed it all. The “raw nerve” you mention is that I had hoped to share my daughters with my own mother more. Its almost over, really, and I am sad that all of our mothers don’t want more of what I consider essential in life.
Please tell me of your experiece as a parent.
curious,
joan

]]> By: Eric Gierke http://www.runningland.com/2005/06/19/the-new-mystique/comment-page-1/#comment-137 Eric Gierke Mon, 20 Jun 2005 21:31:44 +0000 http://www.runningland.com/2005/06/19/the-new-mystique/#comment-137 I suspect that one hits a nerve, because a fair number of us with young children have grandparents who aren't exactly falling all over each other to lend a hand. But this has been a chronic condition for many of us. Which leads me to ask: did something just happen? It sounds like a new, raw nerve in the Nesbit-Mabe orbit. I suspect that one hits a nerve, because a fair number of us with young children have grandparents who aren’t exactly falling all over each other to lend a hand. But this has been a chronic condition for many of us. Which leads me to ask: did something just happen? It sounds like a new, raw nerve in the Nesbit-Mabe orbit.

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