"Leashes" for children...
Before you become a parent, you have many opinions on parenting. Where do they come from? Hell if I know, not experience, that's for sure! Over 5 years ago I would see a child with one of those "leashes" on, at Disneyland or wherever, and roll my eyes. "I would NEVER put one of those on my kid, it's ridiculous!" Well, my friends...never say never. Especially BEFORE you have kids. As you know, my parenting motto is "if it works, do it".
Last week we were at Zeeks pizza eating on the outdoor patio. The kids were done so they were going around the table, going crazy of course. Us adults were trying to enjoy our beers and have conversation. One second I look at Zoe and she's behind my mom's chair, I look away for a second to drink my beer and she's gone. "Where's the child!?" I said. I run inside and ask the servers if they had seen a little girl come in and they start searching. I run out to the parking lot (which is next to a busy street), frantically looking. About 2 minutes later one of the servers says "we found her!"; she had wanted to go potty and just went in by herself without telling anyone...HEART ATTACK!! I know it didn't last long, but it seemed like forever.
Norm ended up walking home with her and I stayed with my mom and Kieren. We just sat there shaking our heads and I said, "If we were going to Disneyland or something, that kid would have a leash on. She would hate it and probably be on the ground kicking and screaming, but she'd have a leash on!" My mom just laughed and said, "I wish I could record this and show it to you 6 years ago". I mean I might not like the idea of those things, but I'd rather compromise an opinion I developed before ever having children, if it would mean keeping her from running away from me and losing her forever.
Everyone has their own opinions about everything but people get kind of crazy about their ideas on parenting, especially when they don't have kids, which boggles my mind. We were at the Lavender Festival and Zoe did really well most of the time, mostly because her brother wasn't there I'm sure. But at one moment we were walking around and she screamed (she likes to do that) and this group of older ladies were walking by and gave me full on glares, I'm talking full of hate and disdain. As if to say, "Ugh, can you control your unruly child?!" Which of course makes me want to get all ghetto, throw my hands up and say "WHAT!?! Have a suggestion for me?! What would YOU do?!" But I controlled myself and just returned the happy glance. It makes my blood boil when people do that.
Don't get me wrong, I don't let my children behave like total maniacs, I don't reward that behavior. I don't just throw candy and toys in their faces to make them behave. They are disciplined. I just feel that each child is different and requires different parenting, and each parent is different too! Give us a break people. Especially if you don't have kids, cause you have NO idea! You might think you know, but you don't. And when I say that, I'm speaking from experience. ;)
Last week we were at Zeeks pizza eating on the outdoor patio. The kids were done so they were going around the table, going crazy of course. Us adults were trying to enjoy our beers and have conversation. One second I look at Zoe and she's behind my mom's chair, I look away for a second to drink my beer and she's gone. "Where's the child!?" I said. I run inside and ask the servers if they had seen a little girl come in and they start searching. I run out to the parking lot (which is next to a busy street), frantically looking. About 2 minutes later one of the servers says "we found her!"; she had wanted to go potty and just went in by herself without telling anyone...HEART ATTACK!! I know it didn't last long, but it seemed like forever.
Norm ended up walking home with her and I stayed with my mom and Kieren. We just sat there shaking our heads and I said, "If we were going to Disneyland or something, that kid would have a leash on. She would hate it and probably be on the ground kicking and screaming, but she'd have a leash on!" My mom just laughed and said, "I wish I could record this and show it to you 6 years ago". I mean I might not like the idea of those things, but I'd rather compromise an opinion I developed before ever having children, if it would mean keeping her from running away from me and losing her forever.
Everyone has their own opinions about everything but people get kind of crazy about their ideas on parenting, especially when they don't have kids, which boggles my mind. We were at the Lavender Festival and Zoe did really well most of the time, mostly because her brother wasn't there I'm sure. But at one moment we were walking around and she screamed (she likes to do that) and this group of older ladies were walking by and gave me full on glares, I'm talking full of hate and disdain. As if to say, "Ugh, can you control your unruly child?!" Which of course makes me want to get all ghetto, throw my hands up and say "WHAT!?! Have a suggestion for me?! What would YOU do?!" But I controlled myself and just returned the happy glance. It makes my blood boil when people do that.
Don't get me wrong, I don't let my children behave like total maniacs, I don't reward that behavior. I don't just throw candy and toys in their faces to make them behave. They are disciplined. I just feel that each child is different and requires different parenting, and each parent is different too! Give us a break people. Especially if you don't have kids, cause you have NO idea! You might think you know, but you don't. And when I say that, I'm speaking from experience. ;)
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