Sometimes Parents are Morons

[5ft Diva]

Have you ever had one of those moments as a parent where you felt completely justified to be upset about something and then your kids say something that completely blows everything you've just done and said out of the water? About six months ago I had an experience just like this.

In my home there are hooks by our front door for the kids to hang up coats and backpacks. On this particular week I had told my boys, I don't even know how many times, to hang up their stuff. I was feeling very picked on as the mom because no one would listen to me, you all know how that goes, and had decided that I had had enough when I saw one of my son's backpacks on the floor and not hung up. He was sitting nearby at the time so I laid into him with this BIG loooooong lecture ...you can imagine how it sounded and then told him that he couldn't go out and play because he directly disobeyed me for not hanging up his backpack after I had told him to. Then after delivering my "I'm the mom and you will listen to me" speech I asked him, "WHY? Why, is it so hard to do what I asked you to do?" He gave me that "are you serious?" look to which he slowly and gently replied, "Because you told us that if our backpacks were too heavy not to hang them up." I was like, "Um....what? Could I go die now?" I couldn't believe this, I totally had the deer in the headlights look. He was right. When I first installed the hooks about a year earlier, I had the boys stop what they were doing and asked them to all come out so I could explain to them to not hang up their backpacks if they were too heavy. I was completely mortified and speechless. I think I literally had to pick my jaw up off the floor. I wanted to drop to my knees and start chanting, "I'm not worthy, I'm not worthy." I apologized left and right. I'm not sure how I overlooked that one but I did. I felt sooooo bad. He told me it was okay but kept looking at me like, "You're such an idiot." Luckily, I can look back on the whole situation now and laugh. Just thought I'd share.

[Big_Sissy]

ha ha, that's pretty funny really. We've all been there and done that one before though. So no worries. It's the good parent that can stop, appologize and move forward. The bad ones wouldn't have done as much.

[Meticulous madness]

That is just such a sweet little story 5D. From both angles. Thanks for sharing it.

First of all, it happens to the best of us! And I agree with BS about you being a "great parent" to admit and acknowledge it and move on. Lesson learned, I'm sure!

Second, how sweet that your little guy was so patient, letting you go on and on with your lecture. The fact that he didn't bust in, getting all defensive and angry in his response is just...well...remarkable. What a good boy.

Even as a calm and rational adult (LOL) I tend to get a bit defensive when I believe I am in the right. This story reminded me how much more Christlike I could be, to listen first, and then calmly explain my side of the story.

Obviously you're instilling very good communication skills in your family!

[Big_Sissy]

I don't know about the very good communications skills, but we are trying. It's a tough battle, good thing we have them for 19 years.

[Meticulous madness]

Yep. Trial and error. That's what it's all about! Good thing kids are so forgiving!

[5ft Diva]

I agree, MM. Thanks for your kind words. I was pretty amazed by the way he responded to me as well. I suppose it was because he was so dumbfounded by my stupidity it was all he could do to not let his jaw drop open. I remember those moments as a kid myself.