Friday 22 April 2011

Bossypants

I love Tina Fey and if this is anything to go by I can't wait to get my hand on her new book Bossypants! Here is her "The Mother’s Prayer for Its Daughter” that's been making the rounds.


First, Lord: No tattoos. May neither Chinese symbol for truth nor Winnie-the-Pooh holding the FSU logo stain her tender haunches.


May she be Beautiful but not Damaged, for it’s the Damage that draws the creepy soccer coach’s eye, not the Beauty.
When the Crystal Meth is offered, may she remember the parents who cut her grapes in half And stick with Beer.
Guide her, protect her when crossing the street, stepping onto boats, swimming in the ocean, swimming in pools, walking near pools, standing on the subway platform, crossing 86th Street, stepping off of boats, using mall restrooms, getting on and off escalators, driving on country roads while arguing, leaning on large windows, walking in parking lots, riding Ferris wheels, roller-coasters, log flumes, or anything called “Hell Drop,” “Tower of Torture,” or “The Death Spiral Rock ‘N Zero G Roll featuring Aerosmith,” and standing on any kind of balcony ever, anywhere, at any age.
Lead her away from Acting but not all the way to Finance. Something where she can make her own hours but still feel intellectually fulfilled and get outside sometimes And not have to wear high heels. What would that be, Lord? Architecture? Midwifery? Golf course design? I’m asking You, because if I knew, I’d be doing it, Youdammit.
May she play the Drums to the fiery rhythm of her Own Heart with the sinewy strength of her Own Arms, so she need Not Lie With Drummers.
Grant her a Rough Patch from twelve to seventeen.Let her draw horses and be interested in Barbies for much too long, For childhood is short – a Tiger Flower blooming Magenta for one day – And adulthood is long and dry-humping in cars will wait.
O Lord, break the Internet forever, that she may be spared the misspelled invective of her peers And the online marketing campaign for Rape Hostel V: Girls Just Wanna Get Stabbed.
And when she one day turns on me and calls me a Bitch in front of Hollister, Give me the strength, Lord, to yank her directly into a cab in front of her friends, For I will not have that Shit. I will not have it.
And should she choose to be a Mother one day, be my eyes, Lord, that I may see her, lying on a blanket on the floor at 4:50 A.M., all-at-once exhausted, bored, and in love with the little creature whose poop is leaking up its back. “My mother did this for me once,”she will realize as she cleans feces off her baby’s neck. “My mother did this for me.” And the delayed gratitude will wash over her as it does each generation and she will make a Mental Note to call me. And she will forget. But I’ll know, because I peeped it with Your God eyes.
Amen.”
-Tina Fey
Photo and Words from Write in Colour.

5 comments:

Lil'Misa said...

Great Post! E and I talk about what we pray for Carter often and this post reminds me of our conversations.

I *have* to read her book now!

AliceHarold said...

I tried to find this in WH Smith yesterday but it wasn't there! So looking forward to reading it.

Melaina25 said...

Bossypants is released in the UK this Wednesday!

Motivating Mum said...

Oh yes, I certainly pray most of that for my little girl. May she have lots of fun making all the silly mistakes I did, and get away like I did without any of the nasty risky consequences, that I can only see with my adult eyes....

Sabrina said...

I love this. It's funny because before being a mom this would have just made me laugh and smile, and now at the end part I tear up.

My list, for having a son, has the extra hope that he will learn and always remember to treat other people with respect. Probably will help that he has his father for a role model on that.