The Dark Side

My 9 year old daughter informed our dinner companions last night that I have a "dark side."

Despite the fact that it's true, I was alarmed that my daughter picked up on it. Of course, my sister and cousin were hysterical laughing and pointing fingers at me. I told them to "shut-up."

Does a 9 year old even know what a dark side is? And if so, when did she see it? Did she see me scratch my nose with my middle finger at some old lady who cut us off the other day? Did she sense how serious I was when I told my 13 year old niece "stop now, or I'm going to have to kill you" when she was 8 verses deep on some happy birthday song learned at camp? Or most unnervingly...did she hear me having sex? Those things weren't so bad...I mean, I'm a good person! I know this for a fact. People I've been nice to have told me.

I put on my warmest smile on, and pulled her aside to ask ..."Iz, what makes you think I have a dark side, honey?" She shrugged and said "that's for me to know and for you to find out."

It's just that kind of cryptic answer that drives me up the wall, but I wasn't going to show it. So, I ignored it all and moved on.

This morning I asked again. "Izzy, honey? Remember you said I had a dark side? (I asked with a big warm smile crinkling my nose to look funny) What did you mean by that you silly girl?" She laughed. She was on to me. I really wanted to know and she knew it. And she wasn't going to give an inch. "That's for me to know and you to find out."

Was she kidding?? What the hell did that mean? Why was she driving me insane? Didn't she know she was killing me?

Well, I'm dropping it for now, I know better than to push this with Izzy. Now it's a game to her and I'll never know. But one thing is for sure. I must have a dark side because clearly my daughter got it from somewhere.