Lather. Rinse. Repeat.

1992: My mom sat downstairs, listening to Rush Limbaugh, doing jigsaw puzzles. I sat upstairs, reading Laura Ingalls Wilder books for fun after a snack of chocolate pudding.

2003: My mom sat downstairs, listening to Rush Limbaugh, doing jigsaw puzzles. I sat upstairs, reading Kate Chopin's The Awakening for school and snacking on chocolate pudding.

2009: My mom sits downstairs, listening to Rush Limbaugh, doing jigsaw puzzles. I sit upstairs, reading Kate Chopin's short stories for school and snacking on chocolate pudding, wondering how so little has changed since first grade.