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Spouting Off | Episode 284
Expectations are a Bitch! Don’t Let Them Ruin Your Life
Following the rules, when they don’t work for you, creates a big mess!
The 1950’s were a long time ago. You know what I’m talking about, right? A time when good girls were supposed to do everything that others thought they should do: Follow the rules and listen to their advice even as you winced at the very thought.
Having ADHD back then didn’t make for a smooth beginning. The 50’s weren’t awash in knowledge about ADHD, and I was, and am, a poster child for it. Impulsiveness, interrupting, hyper-focus, total lack of focus, blurting out thoughts, and busy, busy, busy. I was my mother’s nightmare and dream child. She worked diligently to squash my most outlandish behavior while holding an internal pride that I stood in my truth regardless of its inconvenience.
Expectations of Marriage
When I was a young woman, women were supposed to get married, cook dinner, have 2.36 children, dress them properly, join the PTA, go to school conferences and report back to dad.
Dad was supposed to go to work, come home to a from-scratch dinner and an immaculate house, pat the kiddos on the head, put his feet up and relax after a busy day.