Clichés and Half-Baked Truths

A lot of sayings have been passed on from generation to generation. Many have nuggets of truth and wisdom.  Others, however, are only partially true or not true at all.  Perhaps someone has encountered a “dumb blonde,” once in a while, but it certainly doesn’t mean that all blondes are like those depicted in the “dumb blonde jokes.”  

One saying I have heard and used is, “Parents have eyes in the back of their heads!” Yes, parents do have a way of knowing things that go beyond what they can see with their own two eyes. They hear things and listen well to the words between what is said or they watch the body language or facial expressions of a person.

Even so, as I contemplated talking with a friend about things I’d rather not remember, things that might fall under the category of family secrets, I found myself saying, “I can’t say anything about what I feel or think.”

“Why not?” she asked?

“Because parents have eyes in the backs of their heads,” I replied.

She looked at me and asked, “Is that true?”

“No,” I answered.

“Are they here?”

“No,” I answered, again.

“So, they won’t know unless you tell them or I do. I won’t and it’s your choice, if you tell them.”

She was right. Parents do not have eyes in the back of their heads, so some clichés, although partially true, may not be true at all!

Precious Linda, c. 2014.