Random Thoughts On... Idiosyncracies of the parentals

I must be getting overly-sentimental to think that particular traits of my parents, which I found previously annoying, are now rather endearing. One such trait is the tendency of both parents to be suspicious of any form of contact I have with the opposite sex. 

I'll be fair in saying that my parents have made progress since the early days of their behaviour. For instance, in high school my parents' favourite maxim for a situation that involved extensive communication with any human male, was to simply "turn around and walk away". I think the following sign most appropriately summarises most of my high school interactions:

(via Snippits and Snappits)

As I left high school, my parents resigned themselves to the inevitability of a co-ed environment in uni. And so, being ever so adaptable, their tune changed. (I still wonder whether it's intentional on their part but my parents are rather ingenious in that most of their boy-centric lectures occur during medium to long drives. I mean really, the car's just the most strategic place to have a monologue because I'm hardly in a position to exit a moving vehicle.) Their new angle was based on the premise that once males and females were friends, mutual attraction was unavoidable and one thing would lead to another and bam! The birds and the bees would make an entrance. Platonic friendships? Psh! Non-existent! In my mom's own words: "It's not that we don't want you to have male friends. We just think you shouldn't get so friendly with males." My parents were... helpful at best.

And then we fast-forward to how they are now. My pater and mater have finally wrapped their heads around the concept of platonic friendships (albeit with a sizable dose of suspicion). They still require an extensive back-story on how I came to know (insert male name) and whether I'm attracted to said individual (which is accompanied by a satisfied "good!" when the answer is always given in the negative). Nonetheless, my parents and I have come a long way since those high school days. Well done team.