Gung Hay Fat Choy!
The Chinese character for dragon
It’s the Year of the Dragon according to the Chinese calendar. You likely already know a few dragons, and I’m not referring to your in-laws, either.
People who were born in 1940, 1952, 1964, 1976, 1988, and 2000 are dragons.
Babies born in 2012 will also be dragons. I’m sure their mothers will agree that they’ve created a fire-breathing menace at some point during delivery. Or maybe the moms will want to slay their husband’s dragon so they don’t end up in labor again.
William's classmate gave him some Chinese coins in celebration of the Year of the Dragon
Although my twins are monkeys and I’m a pig (insert your own joke), I thought in honor of Chinese New Year, I’d give the Dragon its due, Ironic Mom style. Below, then, are 5 Characteristics of Dragons, adapted.
People born in the Year of the Dragon are purportedly …
… flexible. There is an excellent chance that they will have a successful career with Cirque du Soleil, unless they’re dropped on their head as a baby or during a show.
… brave. During childhood, they may do things like carve their names into their parents’ minvan. With rocks.
… tactless. As husbands, they will say things like, “You’re the third funniest woman I’ve ever met.” (Incidentally, my husband was born in the Year of the Hoarder. Less incidentally, my husband did say that. He thought it was a compliment).
… enterprising. As a mom, a dragon-woman will be able to use flat-irons for various tasks, some involving her hair.
… passionate. For crying out loud, this is a family blog, people. I’m not even going to suggest combining passionate with the other four characteristics above.
Assuming you’re interested in double entendres, please head over to the writing blog I co-author, Wordbitches, where I’ve collected the 25 Most Hilarious Pick-Up Lines for Writers. Much laughter awaits, I promise.
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Meanwhile, in the comment section below, tell me what your Chinese Zodiac sign is and what characteristics you supposedly possess. If you need to know your what your symbol and characteristics are, I suggest stealing a placemat from a Chinese restaurant. If there’s not one nearby, please consult the results compiled by my overworked research assistant, Mr. Wikipedia.
Leanne Shirtliffe is the mother of seven-year-old twins, Thing 1 and Thing 2. She lived in Asia for eight years, which turned out to be a build-your-own-family adventure. Leanne writes for Nickelodeon and pens a humour column for The Calgary Herald. She is represented by Jill Marr of the Sandra Dijkstra Literary Agency in California. 
Happy Chinese New Year! I was born during the year of the dog so I am extremely loyal. I put all the negative aspects out of my mind after reading them!
That is not entirely true. I did write about one negative aspect. When I responded, I hadn’t yet sipped from my half full coffee cup before driving back down the mountain early this morning! I need a refill!
Here’s to morning caffeine; without it, I’m a combination of all negative characteristics….
Happy CNY from the first dragon to like your post!
And Happy Year of the Dragon to you!
“I’m a pig (insert your own joke)”—I won’t do that because mine is worse. I’m a c—, rooster.
Thanks for using the dashes; that would have turned up some interesting search results…
I think it’s a little nearsided that you didn’t include all your readers born in 1928 who are also dragons.
I’m a snake
I knew someone would notice I omitted 1928. And being a snake makes you …?
Reblogged this on Of Tornadoes and the Titanic and commented:
Dragons are great…but next year is my year (Year of the Snake)!
Year of the Snake and 2013. Sounds like a recipe for success. (Or a modernized scene of Macbeth…)
I’m an ox. And when I have a page boy hair cut and part it down the middle, I look like a musk ox bull. And in case, unlike me, you have no idea what that looks like: http://www.alaska-in-pictures.com/ovibos-muschatus-musk-ox-bull-8092-pictures.htm.
Yes. I really am that hot.
I love that image. Cracking up southeast of Alaska but northwest of where you are…
Well I’m a dragon who married a Monkey – so at least we’re compatible! Just read full characteristics on a site and it’s scary accurate – I’m not sure if that’s good or bad
I have my own Monkeys. Two of them…
This is me:
Rabbit – Gracious, good friend, kind, sensitive, soft-spoken, amiable, elegant, reserved, cautious, artistic, thorough, tender, self-assured, shy, astute, compassionate, lucky, flexible. Can be moody, detached, superficial, self-indulgent, opportunistic, stubborn.
Who makes up this stuff? Gracious, kind, amiable, elegant, reserved, tender, self-assured, astute, lucky, flexible??? No. Not even a little bit. I am a good friend, sensitive, soft-spoken (sometimes), cautious, artistic, thorough and definitely shy, though. And except for superficial and opportunistic, the negative things are totally me. I don’t think I like this rabbit thing . . . do they just pick characteristics out of a hat and throw them at each animal? They seem sort of random is all I’m saying.
I like the image of throwing characteristics at animals.
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Obviously the Chinese need to reconfigure their entire calendar.
Because apparently, I’m a MONKEY. And they describe me as “dignified.”
Enough said.
You are so much more dignified than me. I can’t even remember what I am…
By this reckoning, I’m a rooster, and my wife and daughter are dogs. If anyone else calls them that, I’ll rip their lungs out!
(Btw, that second sentence is a movie quote).
My son is a tiger–both literally and figuratively.
I am doomed to have other bloggers throw movie quotes at me now, aren’t I? Sigh.
I am a rabbit and my daughter born in 2011 is also a rabbit!
As far as the characteristics go..If you take out sensitive,artistic, and soft spoken its pretty true I guess. But couldn’t it apply to almost everyone?
Maybe. Though I’m pretty sure no one would describe me as soft spoken. I think my husband fantasizes about that.
I’m a ‘dog’ and it appears we’re all over the map in traits. We are, however, solidly ‘attractive,’ and I can’t argue with that. Oh wait, I think I’m supposed to be argumentative, too. …Crap.
Ha. Being all over the map sounds kind of fun, actually.
According to place mat science, I’m a horse…and supposed to be smart, adventurous and happy. I’d love to hear a dragon mom’s tale regarding the flat iron!
“Place mat science” – brilliant descriptor, August (as in, why didn’t I think of that? I’m going to blame it on being a pig…)
I thought you were reading a placemat. I would never have suspected Mr. Wikipedia at work.
I’m a sheep.
That’s crap.
Because I’m totally a horse.
Or not.
I always dribble soya sauce on those placemats. Or doodle. I’m a compulsive doodler. Which is what those lacking talent do.
Sheep/horse…you’re in the same farmyard.
I’m a dragon. Won’t say which year –except NOT 1928… Never had children so have no answers to dragon capabilities as moms. I was a scared kid, no bravery evident but after 25 years of yoga I am very flexible if not Cirque-bound — I think I’d need another 25 at which point I’d definitely also make Guinness for oldest Cirque performer ever…
25 years of yoga? Zentastic. I do a modified tree pose with my middle school students to teach them how to use a semi-colon. Then I usually watch 8th graders tumble like dominoes.
I was expecting to see more of us Dragons representing in your comments Leanne! I’m going to be posting about this very topic tonight myself, I will most definitely link back here because you’ve inspired me even more.
I would have to say that I think I’m a fairly stereotypical Dragon myself, but I’m always working on keeping the negative qualities to a minimum.
I was born in the year of the coyote. They’re not know for following the rules.
This WAS fun! Thanks!
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