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Sunday, June 23, 2013

If you want to see a perfect parent...

....you'd better not be looking at me.

The Tooth Fairy letter got posted on another page today. And as usual, the haters came out to play.

Usually it doesn't bother me. I've heard pretty much all of it. But this time, they were a little more harsh than usual. I was called some pretty colorful names, and was my parenting ever questioned this time!

But you know what? As much as it annoyed me, it got me thinking.

People are so quick to judge other parents. But why? Are there any perfect parents out there?

I'm not perfect. I freely admit that on a regular basis. My kids aren't perfect either.

I curse in front of my kids. Not all the time, but it happens.
My house isn't perfectly clean. Sometimes, it's downright disgusting.
I usually manage to get a shower every day - but not always.
My kids' rooms are usually a mess.
I spank my kids when they need it - but it's not often.
We eat more junk food than we should.
Sometimes we eat out because I just don't feel like doing the dishes.
The kids probably get away with more mischief than they should.
I don't keep everyone on a set schedule, and I don't always enforce bedtime.
Sometimes I have to bribe my kids to get things done around the house.
I sometimes breathe a sigh of relief when they aren't home, and maybe enjoy the peace and quiet a little more than I should - and I don't always feel guilty about it.

People don't always agree with my parenting style, and that's ok. I was raised by parents who were significantly older than most parents of kids my age and I grew up in an age when a parent could backhand an unruly kid in the middle of the grocery store without anyone else batting an eye. I'm not scarred for life by how I was raised - in fact, I think it made me a better person in the end (although it took me a very long time to admit that).

Who would have thought that such
a silly letter would cause so much
of an uproar???
But for all of my perceived failures as a parent, I think that my kids are turning out pretty darned good. They are all above-average students and for the most part they're pretty well-behaved (although they all have their moments). And I sincerely believe that part of that is because their parents don't put up with any crap. We are not the type of parents (me, their fathers, their stepmothers, The Dude) to coddle our kids and protect them from every single little thing and give them participation trophies just for showing up. They have responsibilities, and if they don't do them, there are consequences, period.

There are no perfect parents. People need to remember that once in a while - especially before they run their mouths and judge someone else's parenting based on a random letter floating around the internet.

8 comments:

  1. Some people are just jerks.

    I'd like to see them walk a mile in your (hideous) boots!!

    I think you rock.

    ReplyDelete
  2. You pretty much summed me up in this post. For that I thank you!

    ReplyDelete
  3. This seems like a good time to tell you that I ran across that post from a while back the other day -- the one about 24 Parents Who Are Great -- with the tooth fairy letter and you! Listen to them. Ignore the other ignorant, judging fools. They are talking out their arses because they don't have enought info to have any idea what kind of parent you are! You know the old saying,"Never have a battle of wits with an unarmed person". That's for you! You are a good and amazing mom, Amy!

    ReplyDelete
  4. *nods*

    Great post.

    People go insane over "perfect parenting" and dogging other parents.

    We are all trying our best to do right by our kids, and raise them so they can function in society...

    If they go above and beyond.. that's kind of the cherry on top.

    ReplyDelete
  5. As I was reading this I was wondering if you've been to my house and were writing this about my family and how I parent! Lol! Much love.

    ReplyDelete
  6. THE TIMES YOUR KIDS WILL REMEMBER ARE THE GOOD TIMES NOT THE BAD. ONE LIKE GOING OUT AT NIGHT TO SEE THE MOON IN THE PARK. TELL ME THAT'S NOT A GOOD MEMORY. ONE I REMEMBER IS WHEN THE AIRPORT WAS BUILT BY OUR HOUSE,MY DAD WOULD LOAD US KIDS IN THE CAR AFTER SUPPER AND GO WATCH THE PLANES LAND. WE'D PARK THE CAR JUST OUTSIDE THE AIRPORT FENCE. WHEN THOSE PLANES WOULD LAND WE FELT LIKE WE COULD REACH OUT OF THE CAR WINDOW AND TOUCH THEM. WHAT A THRILL.OR GOING TO THE LAKE FOR A SWIM AFTER SUPPER. IT WAS THE LITTLE THINGS. ALSO IF WE DIDN'T DO AS WE WERE TOLD, BOY YOU'D BETTER WATCH OUT.
    LIKE I'VE TOLD YOU MANY TIMES BEFORE, YOUR A GOOD MOTHER. THE NAYER DIDN'T HAVE LOVE IN THEIR HOMES.THEY DIDN'T HAVE TO KEEP THEIR ROOM PICKED UP OR TOLD TO DO THE DISHES. IN OUR HOUSE YOU HELP WITH THE DISHES AS SOON AS YOUR CHIN REACHED THE TOP OF THE SINK. WHY NOT? MOM STARTED HER DAY AT 5:30 IN THE MORNING CARING FOR ALL OF US. DAD WORKED IN A SWEAT JOB. HE'D COME HOME EVERY NIGHT WITH CUTS ON HIS HANDS FROM THE MACHINES. HE WOULDN'T BE IN THE MOOD FOR NOISE OR MISBEHAVING.HE HAD TO LISTEN TO NOISE ALL DAY. WE EVEN HAD TO USE TABLE MANNERS. YUP, TABLE MANNERS. KIDS TODAY DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT THIS MEANS. NO BACK TALK IN OUR HOUSE. IF YOU DID WE GOT A BACKHAND. ETC. LOVED ALL THE ABOVE. PERFECT. WE ALL TURNED OUT GOOD. THEY NEVER HAD ANY PROBLEMS WITH US. THEY WERE THE BOSS. REMEMBER THE COMMANDMENT, HONOR YOUR MOTHER AND FATHER.IF YOU DIDN'T REMEMBER IT WRITING IT 50 TIMES WOULD REMIND YOU. LOL

    GRANNY

    ReplyDelete
  7. The tooth fairy letter was creative. There are a lot harsher ways to get your kid to clean her room. Lol. People need to stop criticizing each other. If you want to see an impressive view of the super moon, a photographer friend of mine took awesome shots. Her fb page is Lyndsy Myers photography. If there is more than one listed she is in Louisiana. Her pics were amazing! :)

    ReplyDelete

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