Sunday, November 27, 2011

My Mother Wants "Two or Three More"

The roles of mother and daughter have certainly reversed in some respects between my mother and me. Lord, was she ever so stern when I grew up. I used to wait until the very last minute to ask her permission to do something because there would always be a ton of questions involved regarding my desire to do this thing.  The jury would always be out for an extended period whether or not I would get to do it. Sometimes she would agree.  At other times, the answer was an emphatic no.  Of course I understand her reasoning now, but as a child, I never did because I wanted what I wanted and wished for her to be as lenient as most of my friends' mothers.

Last year I relented and took two of my dolls to my mother's house at her request, "Bring me two of your large dolls dressed for Christmas to use with my decorations." Instinctively, I said, "No," followed by a stern, "you can't have my dolls." A week or so later, of course, I agreed.

32-in Dreamy Walker and 24-in Waiting for Santa before going to Grandmother's on December 7, 2010
The dolls, at Grandmother's on December 7, 2010
Lee Middleton's Waiting for Santa (WFS) and Shindana's Dreamy Walker (DW) were the two dolls I allowed my mother to "borrow" last year. Waiting for Santa's original outfit was perfect to add to Mama's Christmas décor, but I had to redress Dreamy Walker. I did so using a red velvet coat dress that used to be my niece's. It fits DW perfectly. After the holidays, I didn't bother to bring the dolls home.  A few weeks post Valentine's Day, Mama asked me to bring the dolls spring fashions because she was tired of looking at them dressed for Christmas. (I didn't realize they were supposed to be there indefinitely, but I eventually redressed them in pastel colors for her.)

Before leaving home to go to her house on Thanksgiving this year, she called and asked me to bring Dreamy Walker and Waiting for Santa's Christmas dresses. I did, and redressed them as I watched whatever was on TV. As she sampled some of the food and desserts I brought her, she said, "I need two or three more dolls with chairs that I can sit there and there" (pointing to the areas in her living room where she desired the dolls to sit). After looking at her quizzically trying to determine if she was really serious, I said, "No. There's Amberlynn (pointing to a doll I gave her several years ago for Mother's Day that I redressed for Christmas before redressing DW and WFS). "Three is enough," I said.  "The next time you go to Dollar General you should purchase a child's chair and let Amberlynn sit in it," I suggested.

Thinking in my head (now which two, not three, dolls can I redress for Christmas that I don't mind parting with). She begged a little, "Oh, come on, Debbie. I need two or three more."  To allow time for this jury of one to deliberate, before I left, I said, "We'll see." 

dbg

11 comments:

  1. Girl, I so feel you on this. I stick up for daughter, son, and husband all the time. Mom is a different story. I know you will possibly give in, but it's okay if you don't.

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  2. lol!! The roles certainly are reversed! You gonna let her wait for a while, as she did you? But she's your mama, it's going to be hard to say no. Sounds like maybe the family should be getting her some dolls for Christmas/birthday/Mother's Day presents! That way you can keep yours :)

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  3. Too cute! But you know you are going to give in! LOL!

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  4. Wow, this is such a sweet post. It would probably bring her joy to have the two or three more. Lol! When it comes to Mothers, I have the by any means necessary rule. My Mom was my bestie. Saying no was never an option for me. Thanks for sharing this lovely story.

    Happy Sunday!

    Vickey

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  5. Now the solution to this is one I've been using for a while. My mother lives with us and used to 'borrow' my dolls without warning. They would be sitting on standing in place when I went out and have vanished when I arrived home.
    She's almost 90 and I hadn't the heart to take them back, so I introduced her to Ebay and she now buys a doll every few weeks and enjoys dressing it to her own strange taste.
    There's nothing Mum likes better than finding a forlorn little doll and giving it a new life.

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  6. Two... no more than two Vickey. I usually do give in to my mother's wishes, but often not immediately especially when it comes to something as personal as my dolls.

    Non-collectors fail to realize that asking someone for one of their dolls is like asking a mother for one of her children.

    To gift my mother with dolls would probably not be the right thing to do, unless it was with a doll that she specifically requested. In reality, she never really has liked dolls or considered them much more than playthings for children. Maybe as an octogenarian, her feelings about them has changed.

    It's wonderful that you have such a grand relationship with your mother. I have tried to establish that type of relationship with my daughter and I believe I have.

    Sabriam and Margaret, of course I'm going to be the dutiful daughter and redress two babies in Christmas attire and take them to her house probably as soon as next weekend. I am also going to take that trip that I suggested she take to Dollar General or another dollar store to find chairs for the dolls to sit on, but she won't know this until I am standing at her doorstep with the dolls and chairs in tow.

    Vanessa -- I am glad or maybe saddened that you understand.

    dbg

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  7. Lol, this is a cute post indeed! Go ahead and give in but do it at your pace. I would also give her a really cute one dressed up for Christmas~~ then I would quickly take one of mine back lol. Do this till all of yours are back home!

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  8. Thanks for the suggestion Chynadoll. But I think I'm going to continue to take dolls to her that are no longer endearing to me. Taking this approach will allow me to clear out unwanted larger dolls and babies that she will find acceptable to use as décor. It would be too difficult for me to buy a doll for her unless it was one that she specifically requested.

    dbg

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  9. LOL, just two or three more - isn't that how ALL of us end up with our collections? At least your mom has good taste, which you can honestly say she inherited from YOU!

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  10. Good taste... inherited from me! I love this observation, Miladyblue. Her impeccable taste is the reason I have some doubt that she will like one of the dolls I want to take her. I'll probably take it and judge by her reaction if I should leave it.

    dbg

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