I can tell that I didn’t do my yoga this morning. I’ve been grumpy and snappy today. I came home from a play date at the park and needed to revisit my Clueless Parent Prayer, so aptly named by JerseyGirl at Dirty Little Secret where I left a comment to one of her post about not wanting her little ones to play with the ill-mannered kids down the street.
I’d like to think that I’m sympathetic when it comes to other parents. I have no idea what’s going on in that person’s life to act the way they do. I don’t want judge other parents because I haven’t walked in their shoes and I don’t want to be judged either. You may very likely catch me in a less than angelic moment. It happens. It happens to all of us. But on a day like today, when I have a short fuse, yeah, I’ll get up and tell the lady to reign in her dog because it’s constantly barking and scaring a kid. We’re looking at the same thing (her dog) for quite a length of time. I keep thinking she’s got to do something other than sit there, right? Nope. She just let’s her dog (border collie mix) bark at this 4-ish year old boy who is trying to leave on his motorized toy. I wondered if she was that way (lackadaisical) with her kids too?
Or what about that kid on the play ground who is just simply a bully (HOPEFULLY just going through a phase). The little brute hit my kids a few times and the mom totally apologized (poor thing), but the way she corrected him is not making a difference. I suddenly recall the Definition of Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results (this quote has been attributed to Albert Einstein, Ben Franklin and Rita Mae Brown, that’s an interesting mix). I don’t want to sound like the arrogant bitch or perfect parent here, but the woman needs some parenting advice stat! (btw, I LOVE Musings of a Housewife’s Raising Responsible Kid series. She’s my kind of mamma!)
So instead of opening my mouth and inserting my foot (which could still happen) I have developed a Clueless Parent Prayer that I quietly say to myself (sometimes repeatedly) in hopes that it sends them good vibes or simply sends them away from me.
Dear Clueless Parent, I like to think the best of other parents, really I do. Don’t we all have our kids’ best intentions at heart? I’m going to assume that you are doing the best that you can and you don’t know what you don’t know cuz if you knew you were creating a monster you wouldn’t intentionally be raising your kid this way. Amen.
Perspective has its advantages. It’s easy to have an opinion, but tougher to say it to their face (I must have been really irritated with the dog owner this morning). I find it’s easier to live by example. And if my boys ever acted out like a big bully in front of a bully’s parents, I’d have it be a teaching moment for those parents about how to create well behaved children with manners and respect. Because my little boys are perfect angels. <insert snort here>
Will someone please get me a drink? I’m starting early today. Cheers friends!
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