Whistler's Mother

That's me!

I have an eight year old who whistles all day through. She takes Snow White's advice to an extreme and whistles while she works, and while she plays, and while we drive in the car, and while she dresses, even while she eats -- don't ask me how.

I have come to the conclusion that if Whistler whistled half as much as my daughter painting a famous portrait of his mother was very inadequate compensation: she must have had more patience than Job. She deserved far better, like a whole collection of paintings -- maybe a town built in her honor as well.

All I know is that some days I feel like if I hear one more high pitched sound I may run screaming into the mountains and never come back.

I don't know how she manages to sit there looking so serene, especially while he was painting her, since it is a task that I am sure was accompanied by a lot of whistling. I just wish I could channel some of that peacefulness into my own demeanor.

Whistler's Mother: truly, my current hero.