You learn so much as a parent. Mostly, that you don't know jack shit about parenting. Oh, you knew everything before you were a parent. But, you forgot all that when a whining, sniveling little person, the neediest human on the planet, started following you around making ridiculous questions and even more ridiculous requests. And you question how anyone ever deemed you qualified for the role of raising a kid. But, no one did. You did. Because you foolishly thought you knew everything. Like a teenager. And you thought you were far more mature than that, but you're not.
Don't worry, it's just a phase.
And phases don't last long. Well, when you're in them they don't seem to last long, but when you're kid is in one they seem to last forever. And then you begin to question everything and become religious, even if you're not religious. It must be my fault that my kid ___________(fill in the blank) because I __________(fill in the blank). Which isn't nearly as bad as the pleading with god or the universe or whatever you believe in. Please, please ________________(fill in the blank with the deity or lack thereof of your choice) LET THIS JUST BE A PHASE!!!
Because what if it's not just a phase?
What if it's part of your kid's permanent set of personality traits? What then? Even if you can somehow tolerate that super annoying thing (or let's be honest, 'things') your kid does that drives you absolutely insane until they (hopefully) leave for college and finally begin their own life, you still have to worry about them. How will my super annoying kid ever keep a roommate with the way she slurps cereal? And how will he ever find a life partner with his righteous indignation? Then you feel all defensive. I taught him/her better. I did. I swear. I did the best I could!
I thought it was just a phase!
That's when you plead. I'm so sorry! Please don't leave him/her. Because then they might move back home. With all that slurping and righteous indignation. And I've already done my time. I can't do it anymore! I'm finally in a good phase in my life. I feel like a teenager again. I can slurp my cereal as loud as I want both righteously and indignantly.
I'm just so phased out!
3 comments:
If parents knew what was in store for them our species might not continue.
Lol. the circle of life, in a way.
Oh god I think I said those words to Den yesterday...he will grow out of it. Oh no it was the other way - Den said he's a boy. Boys will be boys, after he smashed the laptop screen of his friends laptop by swinging his bag around... being only 12 we've had so many calls already from the school it's scary. It's just a phase. Yep, just a phase....
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