Nobody likes to argue with their chidren, especially their teenage children.
However, I actually enjoyed a recent argument I had with my fifteen-year-old daughter.
It started when she asked me to stop talking about her going to college. She is a sophomore in high school and I innocently said something like “In a few years, when you’re in college…”.
Stop, she said. Talking about college stressed her out.
I reassured her I would stop saying things about going to college. I reminded her that I’m very open that she does not need to go to college. I said she could be stylist, lines person, or a welder by day, exotic dancer by night like Flashdance.
(I was kidding about the exotic dancer part by the way!)
She said yeah, right, who would be a welder by day, exotic dance by night?
That’s when I told her all about Flashdance.
Flashdance was such an iconic 80s movie. It starred Jennifer Beal, her torn sweatshirt, some amazing dance moves, and a killer soundtrack. It was the story of Alex, a welder by day, exotic dancer by night, who pursued her dream of becoming a professional ballerina.
My teen told me no way, that was the dumbest idea ever, and there was NO WAY anyone made a movie like that.
Laughing, I told her it was a real and extremely popular movie.
Again, she was adamant no such movied existed. She accused me of trying to pull one over on her. No way could there be a movie about a welder by day, exotic dancer by night!
So I did what any respectable member of Generation X would do. I started humming the theme song and pulled up the movie trailer on YouTube.
You remember Irene Cara’s iconic song, don’t you? Sing it with me: “First, when there’s nothing…”
My daughter sat there in stunned silence.
See, kid? I was right.
Winning that little “argument” kinda made my day!
Now I’m currently planning a movie night so we can enjoy the whole entirely of Flashdance, a bona fide movie about a welder by day, exotic dancer by night.
