Kelly Dodd: I Felt Bad for Shannon at Lunch
"If you ask about someone's marriage, you're nosy. If you don't ask, you're selfish. If you try to be insightful by talking about your own marriage, you're projecting."
I didn't grow up with a silver spoon in my mouth. As parents, we always want to give our kids more and better than what we had growing up, but there's a fine line between providing comfort and security and spoiling them rotten. Jolie has always been a good kid. She's getting older, though, and soon she will hit that age where she gets all wrapped up in teenage things like clothes, cars, and social media. Now is the perfect time to instill some hardworking and charitable values into her. When I was in high school, I used to volunteer every Sunday with my cousin Marc at this place called the André House in Phoenix. I remember how much I loved it, so I thought it would be the perfect thing to pass down to my daughter. I want us both to be more grounded and to remember what's important in life. Doing something good for the community is much more rewarding than a private jet or a new Tesla. And it's free!
I loved spending the morning with Jolie and watching her learn to cook and cooperate with everyone in the kitchen. It was so great watching her interact with the people who came down the food line. I was so proud! When Jolie told me she wanted to come back and continue volunteering, it really touched my heart.
The golfing outing was the best! I love golf, so Vicki's birthday festivities were right in my wheelhouse. You know, doctors love golf, and so do lawyers. Brilliant people gravitate toward it, because they know what's up. It's low-impact, beautiful, relaxing, and you can drink! I wouldn't say I'm the best golfer in the world, but it wasn't hard to beat these ladies. Watching them swing their clubs and not even make contact with the ball was hilarious. I left that golf course feeling like Tiger Woods!
Tamra was right when she said the conflict surrounding Emily's marriage is the perfect example of a "game of telephone." Something that was said one way completely morphed by the time it reached Emily, and it seemed like another opportunity for the group to make a mountain out of a molehill. I felt bad for Shannon at lunch, because I think Tamra came across harsh toward Shannon and wasn't getting her point across the right way. I also understand Tamra's frustration, too. I just tried to be Switzerland and not take a side. I like the way Emily and Gina hugged it out and moved on. That's the way adults should resolve conflicts—not storming out, crying, and throwing a tantrum.
Golf may have an etiquette handbook, but this group of women does not. If you ask about someone's marriage, you're nosy. If you don't ask, you're selfish. If you try to be insightful by talking about your own marriage, you're projecting. I think the best is to just not say anything or make any assumptions at all when it comes to marriages and husbands, and insert jokes whenever possible. You never know what goes on in someone else's relationship! And if you do have an issue with somebody's husband, take your complaints straight to the source. More on that next week…
If you want to know more about feeding the hungry and ways to help, we support Someone Cares Kitchen in Costa Mesa, CA. For nationwide relief, you can find a food bank near you through FeedingAmerica.org!