Let Me Explain

I’m thinking to myself, why are they staring at us?  Then I realize why.  The 4 year old adorable angel I call “the oldest” looks like an after picture from a UFC fight (“the oldest” fell while trying to get himself into his car seat.  He broke his fall with his face.)  Then my mind starts racing.  Does she think I did it?  Maybe she thinks his brother did it.  If only “the youngest” would hit his brother so it takes the chastising looks away from me.  In my head I would be able to say, “See that little guy did it, not me.”  I know what it is: these people have no kids, and besides in the aisle of a store, they have had no exposure to a child.  I assume most parents understand kids spend the first 12-35 years of their lives with some sort of perpetual injury.  

Why do we as parents feel the need to explain everything our kids do?  Phrases like, “he’s never done that before”, “I’m sorry, he’s tired” and “damn it, I didn’t know he could throw that far” are examples of things we say in an attempt to justify the behavior of a no attention span, throttle on the rabbit, 35 pound bundle of curiosity who always falls head first named                            .  As parents, my wife and I find ourselves googling the admissions requirements for military boarding schools.  Did you know that there are none that accept 2 year olds?  I see an opening in the market!  The good thing is these times are fleeting.  The 2 year old who annoyed me 2 years ago is going to pre-school this fall.  He’s big enough to get himself into his own car seat (sometimes). And he has started taking pre-tests to prepare for his driving exam.  The point I’m trying to make is loosen up.  Kids are kids.  If you have a kid that won’t stop running around and throwing things while screaming take a moment before you punish them to be thankful for having a child who can do these things!  

One last thing, if you were in the Menards parking lot today around 11:30, that was not a kid being kidnapped.  “The youngest” likes Menards and doesn’t like to leave. 

Chad Berg, “guest” blogger

Anything to add?  Please comment.