It takes a special person to move through life utterly disregarding other people’s opinions. To do so is to be egocentric in the truest sense of the word and society kind of frowns on that – maybe because it removes our ability to manoeuvre and manipulate each other. We humans are a complex bunch.
Farm Girl has certainly been feeling the weight of others expectations of late; Sometimes real ones, sometimes presumptions. If she takes the last piece of cake “everyone else” will miss out and be sad with her. If she doesn’t want to walk on the beach, “everyone” will be disappointed in her. “Everyone” wants her to go back to conventional school. This “everyone” is pretty demanding!
A little guided googling determined a sentiment we can all aspire to, sure in the knowledge that none of us really has what it takes to achieve it.
Mozart was one committed, possibly conceited, undeniably clever, cookie and Farm Girl’s turn as Sage was looking pretty sussed..until another one of those pesky expectation vexations reared their head.
The Homestead has discovered a new favourite cafe. Hectors has a cabinet crammed with the most delicious, freshest, coolest goodies this side of somewhere quite far away and, being run by locals, effortlessly oozes that unique New Brighton vibe. It also, however, has an ever-changing menu; it all comes down to what’s in the garden or in season. Those Homesteaders who like things constant, a group of which Farm Girl is President, found this rather disquieting and many Friday lunchtime discussions revolved around the all utter proper-ness of good, seasonal, home-made food. Then she discovered (Thanks Troy, Eve and crew) putting anything inside a croissant renders it unbelievably delicious.
So, when her turn to play Sage rolled around, she had it sorted…except…well…with all this Great British Bake Off fever that’s been sweeping the Homestead of late, she’d be expected to make the croissants from scratch (cue the welling up of tears)…”and I just can’t!“
Cue the older folk bowing slightly under that expectation weight; we should say, “Ptshaw!”, got out the pinnies and initiate a full-on croissant bake off. But it was Friday; the wine was cooling and The Renovator was picking up Fish and Chips on his way home. We just didn’t want to. Instead we uttered a dismissive, “Pah!”and got The Renovator to pick up a couple of bags of premade pastry delights and a good hunk of treat cheese while dinner was a’cooking.
Which, we are happy to report, totally lived up to expectations, real or presumed.
Union Homestead 
Haha don’t worry Farm Girl you’ll get your head around it. I can still remember being in full whinge ” everybody else is allowed to watch the cool tv programmes while we are being forced to watch the news and everybody else is allowed to go … fill in anywhere …” while my mother would snap back at me “well I’m not everybody else’s mother so you’re not.”
Did the world end? It did not and then strangely it turned out that ” everybody else” usually weren’t watching, going, allowed to either.
Sometimes you just need to say what’s best for you and sometimes you just shrug your shoulders and compromise and you will find your way. As the Heck’s would say ‘what are you gonna do?’ ( I’m allowed to watch crap tv instead of the news now that I am the Mum 😉)
Sage Words which I have passed on to FG … but I admit to having to google The Hecks
Hi, One of the nice things about being older is I am passed being worried about (generally) broader community expectations. Who wrote the rule saying you can’t, should, shouldn’t do…….?
Farm Girl have that last piece of cake, don’t leave it there looking lonely!
I am glad you have a local cafe which has the best goodies this side of Bourke.
With all those implications and unwritten rules, it’s a social bombsite out there.
You are so great at solving tricky problems, congratulations.
It is all very hit and miss, in all honesty 🙂
What you think are other people’s expectations are often more onerous that the actual expectations that other people have so life is hard. I am hoping that it will start to improve after 75 years but I am not necessarily that optimistic.
I wish all the best to you and the Farm Girl in managing expectations.
Thank you. Oh that we could channel a bit of Mozart in times of stress 🙂
Poor Farm Girl! I know exactly how she feels and have moaned about ‘everyone’ recently myself! Life is hard sometimes and it is nice to know that you are such a loving and supportive family and can work through these difficult times together.
That blimmin’ everyone…they have a lot to answer for 🙂
😀
The famous pirate line comes to mind…”they’re more like guidelines”….a rule that has allowed me to thumb my nose at expectations once in a while. And the croissants look amazing.
She did a good job with the croissant assembly. Please notice the parsley sprinkles “from a height” ala Jamie Oliver 🙂