Southern Mama

I am from the wonderful state of Arizona. I was born and raised an Arizona girl. Tempe, Arizona is the place that I feel the most at home in all the world. When you spend so many years in one place you have memories at every intersection, memories in every neighborhood that you dropped a newspaper and the dog chased you. Memories scattered from South Mountain all the way over to Power road.

But...seven years ago I moved out to Fayetteville, Arkansas. The first week I was here I made a new friend who made sure to tell me that I needed to wear make-up when I went grocery shopping. "That's what people do here," she stated "you're in the South now." I really didn't know what that meant at the time, but seven years later, I totally get it...and I have grown to love it! I actually wear make-up 4 out of the seven days a week. It just depends on the day...somedays I feel like being the Fayette-chill "hippy" girl and other days I'll feel like getting all dolled up and sporting my  "Mary-Kay makeup Collection."

So, I still don't have my children say, "yes ma'am and yes sir," although many people do...and I still do say things like, "Look them in the eye and say hello and answer them," cause I am married to a naturally "shy" man and I get how my little kids feel now when meeting a stranger...BUT I have decided to let Amelia join cotillion. When the kids here are in 6th grade they can join cotillion where you spend $240 dollars for 7 months once a month. The kids dress up, learn how to dance, learn how to talk, learn how to be polite, learn table manners and socialize. At first I was totally against it thinking it was just a waste of money and a huge pre-soroity show, but now I think Amelia is really getting some fun and socializing out of it, so I'm good. I have to realize that my girls aren't going to want to be just like me....but actually we had teen elect growing up which was like the mormon cotillion...so...this is pretty much the same thing, just fancier.

 I'm ok with it, and she had a great time. The first Saturday they learned how to do the electric slide...the cupid shuffle. Next week it's the waltz and the fox trot. They had a lot of fun. I'm just letting go of my pre-conceived ideas about the "Southern Society" mom and realizing that even though I don't fit into that box, I know that I fit into other boxes and it's fine to peek in and have a look now and then in that "Southern Society" mama box. I kind of like it! Thank you Opah for agreeing to pay for her dresses and costumes etc. We love you for that! Here are the first pictures.