Eternal Flame

Several mothers were gathered one evening when the subject of the “worst stage” of childhood came up. “If I can just get through the terrible twos,” one mother complained, “I think I’ll be okay.”

“No — they’re a breeze compared with the fourth and fifth grades,” came a quick reply.

“Come on. What about those teen years?” snapped a third mother.

Then, during a lull in the conversation, the only grandmother in the group added seriously, “Just wait until they’re forty-two!”

Which reminds me of the story of another mother and her son. The two were having a heated discussion that I’m sure more than a few of you are familiar with: whether or not the son should go to school that day. “I don’t care what you say, I’m not going to school,” the son protested. “Of course you have to go,” laughed the mother. The son persisted: “You don’t understand. The kids avoid me; none of the teachers like me and you…