Hemmed In (A Mama Kat Writing Workshop Prompt)

For my Mama Kat writing prompt today, the random number generator handed me number five:

Tenley’s dance teacher recommended a specific dress from Delia’s as her costume for her upcoming dance solo. The first time I tried to order it in an extra small, I hit a timeout or some other technical obstacle so decided to try later. By the time I tried later, a medium was the smallest size left. I wrote Delia’s to ask if there was any chance of an extra small reappearing (no, it was a clearance item); I scoured internet consignment shops; I looked everywhere. I finally wrote the dance teacher and asked about getting the medium and having the sides taken in, the shoulder straps shortened, and the hem taken up. She thought that would work!

When I picked my daughter up that day to take her to dance, I told an outright lie and said the medium/alterations plan had been the teacher’s idea (I figured it would have more clout coming from her). The immediate response? Something along the lines of, “you know I don’t like alterations.” ARGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH. The conversation deteriorated from there, way past alterations to me losing it over the light that would not turn green, a different debate over a small detail of the dance life …. I am surprised we didn’t go down a “tomato tomahto” route.

I tried to explain (calmly) that I feel hurt when she does not believe me when I am telling her something that is based on fact and life experience. I dropped her off at dance, still feeling unsettled.

A few hours later I finished listening to Mitch Albom’s For One More Day.

There is a line fairly early on in the book that lays out the premise for the chapters that follow:

My daughter’s and my differences over the basic efficacy of alterations still ticks me off. I suspect it always will. Just maybe, though, one day – ten years from now – twenty – twenty-five, she and I will get together for lunch. I will have rolled up my pants because I didn’t make it to the alterations lady yet. She will be raving about the way the hem of her new pants breaks perfectly over the top of her foot since she got them altered by Sew Now Alterations.

Paula Kiger

Wife of one, Mom of two, Friend of many. My pronouns are she/her/hers.