One mistake.....

Someone recently asked me how I talk to my children about marriage - do I discuss who they should/shouldn't marry? Would I forbid them from marrying if I disagreed with their choice?

I have three children, so this is something I may someday need to face.

I have always told my children "I don't care who you marry -

black/white/green/purple;
male/female/alien;
Catholic/Mormon/Atheist;
American/German/Iraqi;
Earthling/Martian/Vulcan

- as long as there is mutual love and respect....you are free to marry whomever you want to marry."

My daughter (being the sometimes smartass that she is) told me "considering the mistake you made choosing dad, I assume we are all entitled to one mistake along the way."

Someday when she is least expecting it I will ask her one or all of the following "

"Are you sure this is the time you want to make that ONE MISTAKE?"

"Do I have to fund this marriage mistake or can I wait until you make the right choice and pay for it then?"

"You are going to waste your ONE MISTAKE on this person?"

"Gee, at least my ONE MISTAKE was based on my biological clock ticking - what's your excuse?"

"Man, when you make a mistake, you don't do it half assed - you picked a total ass."

"Honey, this isn't ONE MISTAKE - this is a cluster fuck"