Like Mother Like Daughter

My friend Susan who NEVER EVER EVER reads blogs (whats up with that?) checked mine yesterday. She called me laughing hysterically to inform me that I am "a walking dichotomy." She continued, "who else cares enough to spend 18 months researching mascara like it is the secret to world peace, yet still does calculus in her sleep and likes to discuss the ways our country teaches math all wrong to our children?" (yeah, don't get me started on the kindergarten teacher who told the kids that a square has 4 angles, a triangle has 3, and a circle has none!-AAARGGHHHH!)

This is only interesting because I have had had a post languishing in my drafts folder titled, "A Walking Dichotomy." It was about my mother. My mom is also a chemist. However, unlike me, she actually DOES SOMETHING, for monetary gain, involving the chemistry. She flies all over the freaking planet putting her mad chemistry skills to use working on military aircraft and whatnot. In the past few years she has actually flown out to aircraft carriers while they were at sea. I think she has more tailhook catches than my husband. HOWEVER, WHAT WAS SHE DOING in the back of the C-2 on the way to the carrier????? Smocking baby dresses! And, knowing her, she probably baked the pilot some brownies that she made from scratch after she milked a cow and made her own butter to make said brownies.

So, genetics or coincidence? In all seriousness, I guess I have to answer that it is nurture not nature. I give huge props to my parents who never believed in putting people in a "box." You can be girly and feminine while still being wicked smart in "a man's field." You can be a straight, male hairdresser. You could be a really short basketball player. Stereotypes weren't recognized in our house. I hope this is one thing that I am able to successfully convey to another generation.