There's a Grown-Up in My Mirror

After piling on the layers of my face this morning, I stood back for my usual inspection. How do I look?

I look...grown-up. Not old, just grown-up. When did that happen? I know when I felt grown-up for the first time. October 9, 2004. No, I didn't make an entry in my diary, I am a grown-up today. That's the day my little girl got married and I suddenly had a Son-in-Law.

That's what did it, having a son-in-law! You have to be grown-up to have one of those, don't you? They don't give them out to just anybody. No one stands on a busy street corner handing out free son-in-law coupons. You have to reach a certain station in life.

Suddenly I felt more connected with my online girlfriends who were always discussing their kids, kids-in-law and grandkids. I was no longer the tag-along. Somehow, through no effort of my own I had a new title: Mother-in-Law.


Eww, wait a minute, that doesn't have the same ring of grandiosity as having a son-in-law! Mothers-in-law are, well, you know! Am I really one of them?

Does anyone know if you can exchange these titles for something with a better fit?