Mom's Advice

I wanted to touch on advice my mother used to tell me when I was a little boy. She always said “Make sure that you have clean underwear on when you go out, in case you get into an accident.”



Now reflecting back on this advice I always considered it sound. Yes, I did have the thought that if I was in an “accident” I would more than likely soil what had previously been clean. I also doubted that the nurses or doctor would pay much attention to the condition of my underwear if I was actually in need of their services from an “accident”.



So why did my mother have the concern over the condition of my underwear? After 47 year I have come up with the most plausible answer. She was not concerned with my embarrassment, she was concerned with hers. Just think for a minute, a loving mother sending her son to school with “skid marks”, does she not love him? What would people say if they found out? “She does not care about her child, look at the dirty underwear.” “What kind of mother is she?” “Oh! The humanity!”



So, my child, this might explain why your mom and I are so concerned with your “underwear”, or even your hair and make-up. We may be concerned with the reflection on us as parents, more than on you, or maybe we just want you to have clean underwear on.



Mom, just to let you know I still put on clean underwear every day, and sometimes a couple of times a day. Don’t ask, at least I started with a clean pair.