That's funny....I think there is a little bit of this dad in all of us. I actually heard myself saying to a stranger in the store (who was looking strangely at my screaming child), "he's not usually like this". Isn't that funny, that I felt I had to defend myself and explain to a complete stranger that my child is usually well-behaved and mild-mannered, but she caught him at a bad time. Why does it matter? Well, how many times have I made a quick, passing (and likely, erroneous) judgment of another parent who had a screaming and uncontrollable child in a store. So, my reaction is primarily out of my own guilt for passing judgment on others, and I assume they are treating me as I secretly (and unintentionally) treated someone else. If only myself, this dad, and all the other parents cared a little less about what others thought about them and their kids...we would have much more patience and less stress and anxiety (and, so would our kids).
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That's funny....I think there is a little bit of this dad in all of us. I actually heard myself saying to a stranger in the store (who was looking strangely at my screaming child), "he's not usually like this". Isn't that funny, that I felt I had to defend myself and explain to a complete stranger that my child is usually well-behaved and mild-mannered, but she caught him at a bad time. Why does it matter? Well, how many times have I made a quick, passing (and likely, erroneous) judgment of another parent who had a screaming and uncontrollable child in a store. So, my reaction is primarily out of my own guilt for passing judgment on others, and I assume they are treating me as I secretly (and unintentionally) treated someone else. If only myself, this dad, and all the other parents cared a little less about what others thought about them and their kids...we would have much more patience and less stress and anxiety (and, so would our kids).
July 2, 2009 - 1:16pmThis Comment
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