Family arguments

We have a rather happy family, at most times. We enjoy each other's company, usually. We share the same basic values, most often. We can agree to disagree at times, in most cases. But in this unsettling season there is a disagreement on a basic issue that could lead to real trouble for our family life. Each side of this dispute turns to research and experience to prove his point.

I am using the male pronouns here not as a nod to the traditional use of male pronouns to cover all people. No, I am using the male pronoun because the family members in this dispute are male. The women just quietly do what they want without discussing the issue.

Some reach back into family history to prove their points. Grandpoppy thought this way. Aunt Miriam was a strong believer. Grandmommy really loved to do it herself.

Political beliefs are hard to counter, but this dispute goes beyond politics, race, gender or party.

One reason Grandmommy liked to do it so well was that she was denied the opportunity until she was mother of five or six children. It was something she couldn't do easily or often in those days either.

Those on the other side of the discussion point to common knowledge and preferences to prove their point. (Does it make an argument less traumatic to call it a discussion?) Weekly, in this season of change, the problem becomes renewed. Often there are no words exchanged, just actions that display the difference of opinion.

We are not talking about how to vote. We know there are differences there and we don't get into the subject if we can avoid it. It's true that my mother was not allowed to vote, as well as all the others of her sex, until she was a mature mother. But that was not my reference.

I am referring to her joy in keeping the lawn mowed correctly.

Until we started living in Washington, D.C., for the school year, she was too busy with her garden, chickens and children to be involved much in lawn care. But with the advance in lawn mowing equipment and no farm chores, she delighted in keeping a nice lawn and spent many evening hours trimming the lawn.

The ever present dispute however is how high to mow the grass. Lester, with his agriculture background and years of experience watching how others mowed their lawn, knows that to have a pretty lawn you keep the mower at its highest level. That will bring lush grass with few weeds.

His son and grandsons feel that the lawn doesn't look mowed properly unless it is cut short and often. One who works with a landscaping company in the Kansas City area says that his customers wouldn't want a lawn that isn't mowed short. Another feels that it makes you have to mow more often if the grass is tall.

My father and sister did both agree with Lester that the taller grass was prettier and helped maintain a healthy lawn. Miriam particularly liked to see the grass tall enough that it waved a little in the breeze.

I think in the original plan God didn't intend for the grass to be cut at all, but wanted it to produce seed for the birds and for reseeding.

As for me, I just get on the riding mower, readjust the height of the blades, and rejoice that I am riding instead of walking behind a reel-type lawnmower.