The Foundation For Most Arguments And Then Making Up

(My mom and I get along great, but there is one thing we argue about a lot: makeup. She rarely comes downstairs without at least foundation on whereas I will gladly not wear it if it means I can sleep for another five or ten minutes. In high school, I wore makeup more often than not to hide my acne. In college, however, I stopped wearing it as often just out of sheer laziness. When I did wear makeup, at most I would have some concealer and maybe some lip gloss on. When I went home for breaks, my “lazy habit” followed me home. I’m fine with going out with no makeup on while my mother is appalled at the idea. It comes to a head one Thanksgiving. We are getting ready to meet my extended family at some upscale restaurant since my grandmother doesn’t cook and she insisted on hosting this year. I knock on my parents’ hotel room door.)

Me: “I’m ready; [Brother] is almost ready.”

Mom: “You’re not wearing makeup.”

Me: “Nope.”

Mom: “Go put makeup on.”

Me: “Why?”

Mom: “You need it.”

Me: “No, I don’t.”

Mom: “Yes, you do.”

Me: “We’re just going to a restaurant. Any lip gloss will come off as soon as I start eating.”

Mom: “We’re meeting your grandmother! You need makeup!”

Me: “I don’t want to wear makeup. I don’t need to wear makeup.”

Dad: “It’s about time to go.”

Mom: “Fine! Be ugly for all I care.”

(I didn’t wear makeup that day, but that was the last time Mom really nagged me about the issue. I still rarely wear makeup, and my mom still doesn’t understand how I can leave the house like that.)