Monday
Sep062010
don't eat the green M&Ms...
September 6, 2010 * * * * * Posted by: Kelly 
Superstitions are funny. We know they aren't true, but somehow they get in our heads, they influence our behavior, and we change the way we act accordingly. Well, okay, some of us do. Or maybe it's just me...
I recently had a conversation with a friend, and she mentioned that she was eating M&Ms. I said, "Don't eat the green ones!"
"Why?" she asked. "Because they make you pregnant!" was my response. And then we laughed and joked about whether or not I need a lessson in where babies come from, and we laughed some more, but then I said, "It's true. I have proof."
And here is my story: When I was sixteen, I was in the office of the grocery store I worked at, munching on some M&Ms and drinking a Coke while I tallied up the day's receipts. My boss came in to get something, and on his way back out, threw this at me over his shoulder: "Don't eat the green ones, they make you pregnant!" We both laughed and he went on his merry way, and I kept on tallying. Except. I did not eat the green ones.
I knew it was a completely made up, silly joke, but there it was. Every time I reached for a green one, I heard that little voice in my head. Just like "Don't step on the crack or you'll break your mother's back." Or "If you break a mirror, you will have seven years bad luck." Or "If you blow out all those birthday candles, your wish will come true."
So life went on, and whenever I ate M&Ms, I threw the green ones away, or shared them with whomever I was with.
Fast forward a few years, and I am married, in college, sitting in the library, studying. I went to the vending machine and bought a package of peanut M&Ms, you know, because they are healthier with the peanuts and all... and when I opened them, more than half were green. And you know how there aren't that many in the peanut kind anyway? I was really, really hungry, and I thought to myself, "It's so stupid that you don't eat the green ones, it's silly, ridiculous. Just eat them."
And so I did. I ate a whole package of M&Ms for the first time in years.
Approximately nine months later, my son was born.
I haven't eaten a green M&M since that day.
My son is now 24. In a few months, I will be 48. Exactly twice his age.
He graduated college in May, and today he starts his first "real" job, the one he went to college for. It is the beginning of a new stage in life. A time for him to find his place in the world, to become an adult, to choose his own superstitions to follow or not, to become the person he is meant to be.
I look back at myself when I was 24. I also graduated college at that age and started my first "real" job. Except I was already married and had a child. The same, but different. I think back to the moment he was born, and I can't believe so many years have passed.
I'm proud of him, I love him, and I am so very glad that 24 years ago, I ate the green M&Ms, just that once.
So very glad indeed.
Reader Comments (19)
HAHAHAHA! I love it, Kelly. The power of those little green buggers...laughing all the way to the bank. And to think your son will never live that story down. I hope he loves it as much as you do, and the rest of us. Congratulations to both of you. Being proud of our childsren is such a blessing. Life isn't always that "easy," of course, but when it is, it brings a smile. The way you have processed your image looks like it was a picture you took 24 years ago...just in case you needed evidence now. :)
Maybe there's something cosmic in the green m&m's....something unexplainable but very real!!! Congratulations to your son on his graduation and first real job. Being in this same age and stage with mine..I know how exciting it is for everyone. A whole new chapter..and clean white page in which to begin an adult life.
Love the image...:-)!!!
The texture over this photo is great to give this tone and ambiance.
wonderful story ! love the processing of the image
funny but not so hard to believe. you could have bought nothing, you may have gotten pregnant and never known the difference. but you did buy them and you did eat them and you do have that big boy to prove it. great story. great image.
ohhhh, sheesh....now you have me scared to death !
but oh, what a great story to share for years and years......
And he is such a fine young man, I'm glad you ate the green one's to.
LOL! Great story, I love it. Sometimes I sit and ponder on how some of these old wives tales got started in the first place.
Considering how hard we are trying to have a baby right now, I'm going to go out and eat whole damn bag of green m&m's!
Great story, great processing on the photo - I must say I laughed at your reckless disregard for OTHER people when you gave away the green m&m's or did you only give them to boys?? ;-)
xo
Kath
Oh, I love it - great story, Kelly! Was Mercury in Retrograde way back then? ;) It's funny how those old wives tales came into being and how they still have "merit" today, if that's even the right word for it. What a fun story to tell your grandchildren someday. :)
Oh. Love this. Well, since childbearing is behind me, I am going to make a practice from now on that when I eat green M & M's, I will offer that little seed of fertility to some woman somewhere who desperately wants it...
Love this story. I was wondering what you would write. How wonderful that your son is now stepping out into the world, with such a loving and supportive mom.
I heard this superstition a little bit differently...that green m&ms just make you randy... I had a friend bring me an entire bag of green ones from the M&M store, where you make up your own mixture. At the whole thing!
I wasn't aware of that superstition...I love peanut m&m's and eat ALL the colors! Never had any babies, though!
Came here via Mrs. M.!
Very sweet! And I heard the same as Julie (#13) above... that is:
Green ones don't necessarily bring babies... but supposedly incline you to practice making them!
;)
Great picture and even greater story. I had to laugh so hard and my (poor) husband just stared at me... He likes green M&Ms (with peanuts...)
:) Great story. Great image! And...best of luck to your son as he starts this next phase of life. Bet he's glad you ate those green M&M's just that one time!!!
I agree with kath...how many other people did you make pregnant with your flagrant distribution of green m&ms? LOL! I am just loving my little tour around Vision and Verb today! And happy congratulations your son. I just hope mine will get a real job one day:)
I've never heard the superstition about the green m&m's before but this was too cute. Great story! And nice for you son that he's got the job he went to school for and is out in the world being productive. That is excellent.