The Undiscovered Country

The Power of Genetics

One of the most insulting statement a person can tell a teenage girl is: “You are exactly like your mother!”

Them’s fightin’ words! Even when I gave up the fight and acknowledged the truth, I wasn’t happy about it. I thought, “I don’t want to be like my mom! She’s weird!”

I know that sounds cruel, but teenagers more often than not can be. Nowadays, though I’m not entirely happy I’m so much like my mom, I’ve embraced my inherited weirdness. It’s made my life easier, and for those around me, a little more interesting; they have one more thing to point and laugh at, and laughter is always a good thing. I’ve let go of enough of my pride (though not all by a long shot), I don’t mind people laughing at my expense. I’ve even been known to do silly things on purpose to encourage it.

About 4 or 5 months ago, I asked my mom about her pregnancies, such as if my sister or me moved around a lot, morning sickness, et al.

As for the morning sickness, she had the nausea, but very little puking.

Add that to the growing list of why I am grateful to be like my mom! I haven’t hurled in over two weeks, and today is the second day in a row where my stomach is mostly quiet. From the stories you’ve told me, as well as others I know, I will not complain about my gurgling and uncomfortable tummy. Dang have I had it easy!

I’m not surprised my morning sickness hasn’t been difficult. I’ve read that girls often take after their moms when it comes to pregnancy and birth. If a mom had bad morning sickness, so will her daughters, etc.

Which is why I’m hoping even more I take after my mom. For my sister (two years older than me), Mom was in labor for – are you sitting down? – a whopping 20 minutes.

For me, she didn’t even go into labor. I popped out in the hallway of the hospital. The doctor barely made it to catch me. To express my gratitude, I peed all over him.