The Death Stare

I have to laugh when I see the AT&T commercial when the kid mocks his mother and his mother gives him this look. I know that look well, I'm sure you do too. I hate that look, it's not a fun look!! But I laugh every time I see it, probably because it's not me getting the look.

The one look that stops you in your tracks. Stops you in mid-sentence, words you were about to say drop out of your mouth like unwanted crumbs. The one that makes you physically shrink back, your body turning into mush and the feeling of upending doom.

Yep, that look. Isn't it crazy how no words are needed. I believe for women and mothers we inherit this look. Taken, we improve on them, perfect them, make them our own.

This stare, the eyes so intense you feel as if they see right through you into your soul and all the bad things you've done. Guilt washes over you, your face flushes and your shoulders droop. Kind of like a dog pulling his tail between it's legs.

Eyes piercing, nostrils slightly flared, upper lip lightly twitching, face a mask of marble.

You at one point could be in the most craziest, hilariously upbeat moods and within seconds of the look be reduced to depression and self loathing. It doesn't matter how old you are either. My mother can look at me even today and in seconds I transform into a 10 year old. It's crazy when you think about it.

But thinking about it I have to admit that such looks from say a teacher, priest, librarian or other authoritative figure can have the same effect but not with the same intensity as your own mother.

Don't get me wrong fathers have a look too, but I have to say I didn't react the same way to his as I did hers. It's pretty funny because as a kid one of the worst things she could say to us was "Wait till your father hears about this!". He handled the major issues and major discipline, it always seemed it hurt far worse coming from him, probably because he was stronger and had a heck of a back swing. Mom took care of the daily little things discipline. You would think we would be more afraid of him.

You couldn't get anything past mom, she saw all! You wondered sometimes if she had some magical powers. That same look could make you confess to things you swore on your undying friendships you would take to the grave. A couple of minutes of the look and you were blubbering like a village idiot.

As a mother myself I was amazed I had the power as well, the dreaded death stare. It came so naturally, flowing easily like I had done it all my life. As time moves on and you get more experience you get much better at this craft.

I realized something else as a mother, I have another look. One almost as powerful as the Death Stare. The look that tells you no matter what you do or have done that you are loved. The look that when your so sick it always makes you feel better because you know she has all you need. The look that tells you from across a crowded room how much pride and unconditional love she has for you. The look that tells you everything is alright now, the look only a mother can give.

A mothers power. It makes me proud to be a woman and a mother. I can't wait to see my daughter give the look and feel such power.