Stranger in Stuff

I got a strange woman in the grocery store yesterday calling out to me, “Aren’t you Olsen’s mom?” This is always alarming to me. I don’t like random strangers talking to me. I actually completely ignored her at first. There could be another kid named Olsen whose mother was in the store at the same time as me. Or maybe I misheard her completely.

But she seemed to really be approaching me and singling me out. So I looked up at her and studied her face. No recognition at all. I started to wonder the possibilities of what she might be selling me, but then realized if she knew me through Olsen it was probably more innocent than that.

I smiled slightly and quietly acknowledged that Olsen is my offspring. I think she could tell I had put up several walls and didn’t want to have a conversation. But she smiled very warmly and said she was Darren’s mom.

I almost felt shitty that I didn’t know her. There was a time in my life when I would have made sure to know the parents of everyone my kids were dating, but Olsen’s in college now and I have to give up some degree of control.

We chatted for a while. She seemed very nice. I said to her that I think Darren’s a great kid, almost surprising myself in the fact that I actually meant that.

But we left it at that. I don’t want to commit to developing some kind of relationship with someone that I can say with almost 100% certainty won’t be part of Olsen’s life for too much longer. And I’m not being negative at all. I think I’d actually be worried and maybe even a little disappointed if she found herself in a long term committed relationship at 19.

Nonetheless, it’s good to know Darren has a good mother.