Yet.
But, I know that it's only a matter of time before everything I do is wrong.
I have a friend whose parents were hippies. Like, tie-dyed in the wool-flowers in the hair-singing Kumbaya without a trace of irony-lets smoke a bowl-Jerry Garcia is God-hippies. They spent a lot of time fighting the good fight against poverty, war, injustice, and Richard Nixon.... Their stories usually started with some variation on the theme of "This one time when we were high in Mexico" or "Once, when we were protesting the Viet Nam War..." They wore a lot of hemp. They OD'd on Free Love.
So, naturally as soon as he grew up, my friend joined the NRA. The only time he's been high was when he climbed the Rockies with his
Essentially, kids will rebel against their parents in one way or another. Sometimes they rage against the "old ways" with a lot of Sturm Und Drang -- loudly, vociforiously "Look at me Mommy! Look at me Daddy! I'm Different!" and other times they quietly go about their merry way and join a cult. Or become investment bankers.
I'm a free-wielding mama. I let M colour on the walls of her room with a crayon. Little Homie's favorite toy is... well... um... himself and when he's bored, I take off his diaper and let him play. Bedtime is a fluid concept in our house, and if M is having a hard day I've been known to break out the Haagen Dazs. I don't censor myself, even though I know it means that one day the preschool director will call me because one of my kids said "shove it up your ass, Douche Bag." But, I love loyally and loudly. Mess with my kids, and I'll kill you. Yes, you. But still, I understand that whatever I do -- whoever I am -- is wrong.
The only right decision is to be true to myself. Because one day -- God willing -- I will be the Gramma laughing my ass off while M and Little Homie struggle with their rebellious kids.
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So true! We can only do our best to raise these babies to the best of our ability and hope for the best:)
ReplyDeleteMy mom always said "What can two kids do to rebel against their ex-hippie mother? Join the military industrial complex!" This one hit home... :) Guess we can just hope they rebel against the stuff that would be *good* to rebel against ;)
ReplyDeleteHaagen Dazs?! I save those for ME! My kids are content with an Otter Pop.
ReplyDeleteYou have to be true to yourself, and I think we're all going to sit back and enjoy the show as grandparents one day. :)
ReplyDeleteYou've got that right. My daughter tells me I'm too permissive and my son tells me I'm too strict. No matter who is right, I will end up as the subject of someone's complaint on Oprah.
ReplyDeleteThere is no such thing as a perfect parent. Thankfully, my sons as adults are turning out well AND still on speaking terms with my hubby and me. Though I'll tell you now, it is SO hard to break the cusing habit of the young ones.....
ReplyDeleteHaha. It does always come back to bite ya, huh? They'll get theirs!
ReplyDeletelol....so, so true....we can't all be dr. spock....thank the good lord
ReplyDelete..."even though I know it means that one day the preschool director will call me because one of my kids said "shove it up your ass, Douche Bag." "
ReplyDelete:) I'm sure I'd like to say that to many preschool directors too, so... lmao!
I curse. A lot. Not as much as I used to (um, 5 minutes ago?), but *I*'m uncomfortable with it so I'm trying to change that for ME... not as much for the little man at home, weird as it sounds. Even if the grandparents are all "soon enough he'll be repeating everything you say *STARE*"