Well, it's happened. That moment when you realize that you are THAT mom. Your sweet baby, the one with the big personality and the sweet spirit, turns into the biggest donkey there is. It's even better when your the host of a family event and she's the one bullying the kids in the restaurant play area. Yep, go ahead and make that face, the one that every parent there did.
I'll admit it, I've coddled her, made excuses--she's a very high energy child (true), has ADHD (true), has some hormonal issues (true)...it's not her fault (NOT true). Sure, all of those things affect some of how she acts but at 5 she is making choices and she's smart-TOO SMART. When I fuss at her she'll say "I'm trying Mom, I don't know how to be a star student" and I fall for the tears every time. My husband is wrong, she couldn't fake me out like that--no 5 year old is that smart. Well mine is.
As a kid I remember my Mom blaming herself for our bad choices and I never got it. Was it a guilt trip for us? Surely she didn't think that, we make our own stupid choices. And then MY night came when I cried myself to sleep...what had I done wrong with Amelia? Am I too lenient? Not showing her how to be kind? Teaching her to stand up for herself too much? Of course, it doesn't help when I make her apologize and the sweet girl just hugs her. GREAT! Couldn't she have just said "NO, your a jerk, I don't forgive you!". But, no, she has to be a sweet kid. Damn over-achieving parents.
So here we are, I'm not using the "wait til your Dad gets home" thing, he gets onto her and she looks at me desperately--I have to look away. You see, I'm not a fan of spanking. I don't have a problem with others doing it, I was spanked and I'm fine. Many of my friends spank, that's okay. Her Daddy spanks her...I don't like it but lately I don't fight it. She just laughs if I try to spank her. Yes, I'm the Mom that "re-directs", that annoying Mom that thinks all kids should get trophies. Ugh--how did this happen?
So, next time you see me in public or even better--at one of my events around town and my child is being the jack***. Be patient, I'm working on it. I promise I'm not telling her to push your kid and certainly come tell me. But feel my pain--please? Don't judge too harshly--I'm a work in progress.
