Anyone out there ever feel the need to explain that something you weren't in the room for wasn't your fault? My wife and daughter went to bed last night and were lying in her bed when I walked in. Nothing special so far, and this occurrence isn't uncommon. However, my other daughter - the six month old one - has had trouble sleeping all night recently after doing it like a champ for a couple of months.
Before heading into my bedroom, I went into Rachel's room to check on them. Just as I step foot in there, Amelia starts crying. The first words out of my mouth were, "I swear I didn't go into her room at all and do anything."
This was a defense mechanism. My wife has done extraordinary things with taking care of Amelia, but I know that the late night work sometimes makes her edgy, so I have to do all I can to not disturb the Little Miss and pre-empt the sleep cycle. I've done this before, and the scathing looks could melt butter.
Sherry didn't scold me or say anything. She just got up and headed to Amelia's room to quiet our daughter. I sat down on Rachel's bed to tell her good night and that I loved her, and what were the first words out of her mouth?
"Daddy, you really shouldn't have woken Amelia up."
I can't win unless I strap a camera to my face 24/7...and even then the outcome would be far from certain.
Russ
Showing posts with label Russ. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Russ. Show all posts
Sunday, October 20, 2013
Sunday, October 6, 2013
Poisoned Coins
My daughter, the budding playwright, decided she needed us to truly get into character for her latest script. She's writing a play about a wicked woman who wants to give a fairy princess a set of poisoned coins to kill her(Snow White, anyone?). So that we could get the underlying story, she made a simple statement.
"Okay, I need you guys to imagine, like, if I died. What kind of tombstone would you get me?"
My wife's face went white and I nearly fell out of my chair. Imagining your child dead isn't what one would call the most pleasurable of pastimes. We tried explaining to her that parents don't like imagining their little girls in the process of decay, but she just didn't get it.
"But it's just a play," she protested. "I'm not really going to die."
On an intellectual level, I understand. On an emotional one, I say "no way in Hell."
This made me think back to a time my own brother and I were playing around in my mom's car during a trip somewhere. We were saying our wishes, and I said something to the effect of, "I wish you were dead." I thought my mom would explode.
It took me 30 years to understand the reaction. It's amazing how those little moments make you question your own sanity, as well as your commitment to staying intellectual. I could have rationally explained it to her or played along, for it is just a play, and I don't want to dampen her creative spirit. However, the dad in me came out.
"Don't ever say such a thing again," I said. "Now go read Green Eggs and Ham."
Not my most shining moment, but how many parents would have reacted differently?
Russ
"Okay, I need you guys to imagine, like, if I died. What kind of tombstone would you get me?"
My wife's face went white and I nearly fell out of my chair. Imagining your child dead isn't what one would call the most pleasurable of pastimes. We tried explaining to her that parents don't like imagining their little girls in the process of decay, but she just didn't get it.
"But it's just a play," she protested. "I'm not really going to die."
On an intellectual level, I understand. On an emotional one, I say "no way in Hell."
This made me think back to a time my own brother and I were playing around in my mom's car during a trip somewhere. We were saying our wishes, and I said something to the effect of, "I wish you were dead." I thought my mom would explode.
It took me 30 years to understand the reaction. It's amazing how those little moments make you question your own sanity, as well as your commitment to staying intellectual. I could have rationally explained it to her or played along, for it is just a play, and I don't want to dampen her creative spirit. However, the dad in me came out.
"Don't ever say such a thing again," I said. "Now go read Green Eggs and Ham."
Not my most shining moment, but how many parents would have reacted differently?
Russ
Friday, September 20, 2013
The World Does Not Belong To Your Kids
Okay, this post might be a little but different than most of what this blog is used for, but I saw something that sent me over the edge. This story about a family getting kicked out of Applebee's kicked off everything.
In short, a husband and wife brought their one and three year olds into an Applebee's in Texas. Nothing amiss so far. After all, it's a family style restaurant, so bringing in families is encouraged, right?
During the dinner, the kids got out of control and several patrons complained. According to reports, the manager asked them to leave, at which point the family refused. The manager then called police to have them evicted, and the dad called police because he says he "felt threatened." The parents say their kids are "a handful," but he feels their behavior is no different than that of other "active" kids. Pardon me for saying that this bullshit is a big part of what's wrong with society.
As parents, our world may revolve around our kids, but that doesn't mean other people's do. Just because we have kids, that doesn't mean we have the right to expect everyone to cater to us, nor does it give us the right to disrupt everyone else around us for the sake of our precious children. There is nothing in this world that infuriates me more than a parent who thinks that just because they have kids, the world is obliged to give way.
First of all, it's our responsibility to control our children, especially in public. The story says the three year old girl "got away" from the parents and started wandering around. Sure, the dad grabbed her, but could any of you imagine your toddler even having that chance? What did her hands touch and how many other patrons' meals did she disrupt before the dad got to her?
Second, if our children misbehave, and our corrections have no effect, then it is incumbent on us, not others around us, to fix things by leaving. Only the arrogant presumption of today's spoiled parents lets them think, "Well, I need a night out, so everyone else bend to me." WRONG! Leave - don't question, don't think you're more important than the dozen of people around you, don't get pissed because the world doesn't change for you...just go. Use it as a teaching moment for your kids about the consequences of misbehaving. Yes, your evening will be inconvenienced. Guess what? You have kids, many more evenings will be inconvenienced...and they should be. You are no longer just looking out for you - you have the responsibility to teach and correct and follow through when necessary. If that puts you out, then don't have kids.
It was the reaction on Your World With Neil Cavuto that set me off. Both guests were adamant that it was Applebee's that screwed up. They kept yammering about it being a "family style restaurant" and how this is expected at places like this. That's a load of crap. I may not expect Sardi's in New York, but I don't expect a bunch of screaming and scampering kids to ruin my night out with my family. We've tolerated this garbage for far too long, and it pisses me off to no end to think some folks expect us to expect this behavior. Why should those of us who practice control have to have our nights ruined by those among us who think this free-wheeling nonsense is okay?
One of the anchors said it was a bad PR move for Applebee's. I disagree! Were I near this Applebee's, I'd give them my business now and thank the manager for standing up to parent bullies like this. The backlash against this stuff has started, with more and more businesses saying "no kids allowed." The rest of us are being sanctioned because of folks who have no concept of what it means to be a good parent, and I'm tired of it. Until the rest of us stand up and say "ENOUGH!", this shit will continue because we allow it to continue. It's time we stand up to fools like this and their children, and we let it be known across the land that this will no longer be tolerated. Maybe if we let the bad parents in our midst know this is unacceptable, maybe we can reassure the rest of the world that we can regain control, but we definitely aren't doing it now, and the world is reacting.
Of course, that means we have to control and follow through as well, or we're just part of the problem. My two cents, and now I feel better.
Russ
In short, a husband and wife brought their one and three year olds into an Applebee's in Texas. Nothing amiss so far. After all, it's a family style restaurant, so bringing in families is encouraged, right?
During the dinner, the kids got out of control and several patrons complained. According to reports, the manager asked them to leave, at which point the family refused. The manager then called police to have them evicted, and the dad called police because he says he "felt threatened." The parents say their kids are "a handful," but he feels their behavior is no different than that of other "active" kids. Pardon me for saying that this bullshit is a big part of what's wrong with society.
As parents, our world may revolve around our kids, but that doesn't mean other people's do. Just because we have kids, that doesn't mean we have the right to expect everyone to cater to us, nor does it give us the right to disrupt everyone else around us for the sake of our precious children. There is nothing in this world that infuriates me more than a parent who thinks that just because they have kids, the world is obliged to give way.
First of all, it's our responsibility to control our children, especially in public. The story says the three year old girl "got away" from the parents and started wandering around. Sure, the dad grabbed her, but could any of you imagine your toddler even having that chance? What did her hands touch and how many other patrons' meals did she disrupt before the dad got to her?
Second, if our children misbehave, and our corrections have no effect, then it is incumbent on us, not others around us, to fix things by leaving. Only the arrogant presumption of today's spoiled parents lets them think, "Well, I need a night out, so everyone else bend to me." WRONG! Leave - don't question, don't think you're more important than the dozen of people around you, don't get pissed because the world doesn't change for you...just go. Use it as a teaching moment for your kids about the consequences of misbehaving. Yes, your evening will be inconvenienced. Guess what? You have kids, many more evenings will be inconvenienced...and they should be. You are no longer just looking out for you - you have the responsibility to teach and correct and follow through when necessary. If that puts you out, then don't have kids.
It was the reaction on Your World With Neil Cavuto that set me off. Both guests were adamant that it was Applebee's that screwed up. They kept yammering about it being a "family style restaurant" and how this is expected at places like this. That's a load of crap. I may not expect Sardi's in New York, but I don't expect a bunch of screaming and scampering kids to ruin my night out with my family. We've tolerated this garbage for far too long, and it pisses me off to no end to think some folks expect us to expect this behavior. Why should those of us who practice control have to have our nights ruined by those among us who think this free-wheeling nonsense is okay?
One of the anchors said it was a bad PR move for Applebee's. I disagree! Were I near this Applebee's, I'd give them my business now and thank the manager for standing up to parent bullies like this. The backlash against this stuff has started, with more and more businesses saying "no kids allowed." The rest of us are being sanctioned because of folks who have no concept of what it means to be a good parent, and I'm tired of it. Until the rest of us stand up and say "ENOUGH!", this shit will continue because we allow it to continue. It's time we stand up to fools like this and their children, and we let it be known across the land that this will no longer be tolerated. Maybe if we let the bad parents in our midst know this is unacceptable, maybe we can reassure the rest of the world that we can regain control, but we definitely aren't doing it now, and the world is reacting.
Of course, that means we have to control and follow through as well, or we're just part of the problem. My two cents, and now I feel better.
Russ
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