If you’re ever in need of a parenting confidence boost, consider volunteering for a school outing. I recently had the opportunity to chaperone a second-grade theater trip, and let me tell you, it was quite the eye-opening experience. It became clear there are plenty of parents who seem perfectly fine sending their children off in unbuttoned shirts, mismatched pants, untied shoes, and with less-than-fresh breath. And this was a field trip, for goodness’ sake! At the theater, no less!
Maybe these parents have already embraced the reality that kids can be messy, and there’s no point in trying to change that. Regardless of their relaxed approach, I’m genuinely grateful to them because they made me feel a lot better about my own sometimes imperfect parenting efforts.
So, a heartfelt thank you to:
- The parents of the child sporting what appeared to be two days’ worth of snot on his face: My first instinct was to wonder if his mom even glanced at him that morning. Yet that little one prompted me to check my own kid’s face, and lo and behold, he had his own crusty boogers. I might have told him to eat breakfast and brush his teeth, but did I really look closely at him? Not so sure.
- The parents of the charming girl who sat next to me on the bus and shared her riveting saga about her mother spending “practically all day” combing lice out of her hair: First of all, I’ve never put my hair in a ponytail so fast! But secondly, I appreciate you for making my childhood lice experiences feel far less shameful, and for lessening my anxiety about my kids possibly encountering that particular pest in the years ahead. And now, I can’t stop itching my head.
- The parents of the boy who excitedly boasted about his new motor home, four-wheeler, computer, and a house with a “really big” pool: Thanks for easing my discomfort about our own short sale from years back. When can we organize a playdate so my kids can indulge in your impressive toy collection?
- The parents of the child whose lunch consisted of a pre-packaged PB&J, an overly long fruit roll-up, a chocolate treat, Cheez-Its, and chocolate milk: You’ve made me feel a little better about my own lunch choices. I admit I’m feeling somewhat judgmental here, but perhaps your kid’s diet keeps him from chewing on the dog’s tail or scraping the walls of our home, unlike mine does.
- The parents of the child who kept running off, lagging behind, hiding, and generally causing mayhem: Oh wait, that was my kid. Scratch that.
- The parents of the child who needed water every ten seconds and kept asking me to hold his hat and jacket: I appreciate you for making me feel justified in teaching my kid patience and independence. Except when it comes to tying his shoes—he just learned that two weeks ago! (I can’t help it if the Velcro ones are always on sale!)
- The parents of the girl who candidly announced on the bus that her breath stank and when asked if she brushed her teeth, proudly revealed she hadn’t: Thank you for inspiring me to make my kids brush their teeth twice tonight. Those dental crowns looked pricey. I’d rather deal with lice!
To all these parents: Each of you, in your remarkable way, helped me feel a little less overwhelmed by the challenges of parenting. Thank you for reminding me that I’m not alone in this messy, chaotic journey we call parenting.
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In summary, we’re all on this parenting rollercoaster together, and it helps to know that we’re not the only ones navigating through the sticky, unpredictable moments.