finds us dodging each other
bumping almost shoulder to shoulder
stepping over a wet towel
or bunched up pajamas
if it's a bad morning,
we'll argue
if it's a good morning,
we'll argue a little less
"clean up the toothpaste worms from the sink"
I remind her
for the hundredth time
"I KNOW!"
she snatches the brush
before I can get to it
so I plug in the hair dryer instead
I decide to let the exasperation
and tone roll off
not. worth. it.
I wear my thick-skinned fur coat
24/7
grit my teeth,
breathe in,
breathe out
and carry on
with my morning
"this eye looks good
but why is this eye
just NOT working?!"
a white washcloth smudges off
a crooked layer of eyeliner
along with a few tears
she doesn't want me to see
I lean in, mascara wand
trying to make some magic
happen for my own eyes
I don't have time
to smudge it off
"how? how can you
put on mascara
without opening your mouth?"
I continue applying my face
she continues applying hers,
sneaking a glance at my
expertise
with a mascara wand
"I've been doing this longer
than you've been alive"
she leans in with her own wand
mouth wide open
satisfied,
she steps back
I look at our reflection
and try not to think
about the days
I braided her hair
in front of this mirror
and she'd want to help
with my makeup
I think this is a precious piece, and not in a cutsie way. It reads as so honest. Your mutual exasperation, yet united in the mirror with the mascara. I love the image of wearing your thick skinned fur coat 24/7. I love the tear she doesn’t want you to see, and the question- how can you put on mascara without opening your mouth- so true! And I love closing with the poignant memory of braiding your daughter’s hair in this same mirror, before she wore her own makeup.
Thank you for your feedback, Fran. Mini-me is far from cutesy, so I’m pleased to hear it didn’t come across that way. With a ‘tween, thick skin is a fashion must, lol!
Love the interplay and all the emotions expressed here as you get ready for work/school and that touching memory at the end of when she was younger, sure every mom knows that feeling!
Nerds Beget Nerds 
Poignant! What an honest reflection on your morning mirror. Thank you for sharing!
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Thank you for reading!
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I can picture that routine perfectly. I can feel all the feelings. Time passes and changes us too quickly.
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Yes, it does, but sometimes it feels as if it’s stuck in mud.
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I think this is a precious piece, and not in a cutsie way. It reads as so honest. Your mutual exasperation, yet united in the mirror with the mascara. I love the image of wearing your thick skinned fur coat 24/7. I love the tear she doesn’t want you to see, and the question- how can you put on mascara without opening your mouth- so true! And I love closing with the poignant memory of braiding your daughter’s hair in this same mirror, before she wore her own makeup.
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Thank you for your feedback, Fran. Mini-me is far from cutesy, so I’m pleased to hear it didn’t come across that way. With a ‘tween, thick skin is a fashion must, lol!
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Love the interplay and all the emotions expressed here as you get ready for work/school and that touching memory at the end of when she was younger, sure every mom knows that feeling!
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Thank you. I’m glad to hear I was able to make it work.
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Heart this.
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Thank you, Irene.
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