Accidental truths...

I went outside barefoot the other day. Granted, the only reason I did was because I needed to get the mail, and someone ran off with my slippers. I'm not known for finding things without a team. Still, I was pleased to find that between the lack of snow on the ground and the "warm" weather, I made it back to the house without freezing. I was elated! Spring must be around the corner! Right?
It snowed the next day.
This is what my parents called "trick weather."

"Mom? Can I go outside?" I ask.

"So long as you wear a coat." She replies.

"I don't need a coat. It's warm; The sun is even out." I frown. Dumb mom; cant she see that?

"You don't have to wear a coat, but then you wont go outside. It's cold. Just because the sun is up doesn't mean it's warm. It's forty degrees out." My dad chimes in. I knew it. They're both dumb.

"Katie," My dad says with warning as I grunt and roll my eyes, (Note the spelling of my name. I changed it from 'ie' to 'ey' in seventh grade. My dad refuses, still, to acknowledge that. Fine.)
"You think it's warm because the temp is up slightly, but not enough. It's called trick weather. Your gonna get sick if you don't wear a coat."
Okay...maybe not so dumb.

I remember that coat. Baby blue little number with hideous purple and pink vertical piping, possibly yellow too. 80's chic. There was a hole in the pocket and pennies always dropped into it. It jingled when I ran.
Hastily I pushed my arms through the sleeves and ran out to play, managing to zip it up before my little fingers began to freeze. Within the hour I was at the kitchen table, cheeks ruddy from cold and those same little fingers wrapped around a mug of hot cocoa. I'm sure my mom was grinning smugly.
"I was bored," I claimed. Right. It was bloody well frigid. I stayed in the house the rest of the day, watching Captain Kangaroo.

So why this little jaunt down memory lane? I was reminded of this when my daughter attempted to follow me to the mailbox, also without shoes.

"Go inside, Sass. You don't have shoes on, and your gonna get sick." I say as I hop over a rock.

"It's not even cold and you don't have shoes on. How come you get to?" She asks. Good question.

"Because." I reply, using the parental response I vowed never to. It has occurred to me over the years, just what that blessed-but-hated-by-kids response means. 'I haven't a good explanation that wont get me into trouble so your just going to accept it cause' I'm the boss.'

She growls and rolls her eyes. I know she thinks I'm dumb. I grin.
"Sass, It's called trick weather."

It's good to have things like these in the arsenal of parenting. Accidental truths...