I don’t think Parenting Magazine will be seeking my wisdom
I’m just fortunate she turned out OK~
Lately I have enjoyed listening to a student discuss the trials of having a 3 year-old child. Hearing her tales of woe brings me back to when my daughter Savannah was younger. In reality, its amazing that she has turned out so well, considering the things I have actually said or inadvertently done to her through the years. . Some of those parenting faults she remembers very well and has no problem reminding me of them.
When most of us were young, after our parents gave us a good scolding, I remember always saying, “well, I’m NOT going to do that to any of MY kids!". words spoken from a person who has never lost sleep or experienced a very stressful day in their lives. Here are a few of my favorite quotes, or “parental goofs” that I specifically remember projecting onto my daughter. I’m sure if prodded, she can list many more.
1). Telling her that the police have small handcuffs for kids that do not behave.
2). Making it clear that if she does not take school photos seriously it will be the cover of our next Christmas card.
3). Telling her instead of an "allowance", she should be PAYING ME $1 a week for the "privilege" of having me as her mother.
4). having to apologize to her on all the times she got busted at airport security after I "re-packed" her carry on. There is nothing warmer (and very funny) for a mother to see than your 8yo frantically pointing at you, while also being surrounded by security. After They checked our alibis and confiscated our “contraband” 8oz. jars of mustard, we would be on our way. I always counted the seconds before I heard the familiar angry tone…. "MOM…!!!!!..You did that on purpose!".………….my reply…… well……Maybe.
4). The caper that she is STILL miffed with me for doing…. (honestly with good reason) still makes me laugh..…. while filling out the form to purchase little-league baseball Picture cards, I started talking to a friend and got distracted. In the “block” spaces where you spell the child’s name, I forgot to put the hyphen on the H. All her baseball cards that year read "Savannall". Her angry reaction: "You did that on purpose!!!!".... well….. maybe…
deep inside, I think that having a goofy mother will either make her more self-reliant and sympathetic to all the future goofy people she meets, OR cause her seek a lot of expensive therapy. So far so good. the apple it seems did not fall far from the twisted tree. ;-)