If you’re seeking a little boost in your parenting confidence, consider volunteering for a school field trip. I recently accompanied my child’s second-grade class to a theater outing, and it turned out to be quite the eye-opener. It became abundantly clear that many parents are perfectly fine sending their kids out in unbuttoned shirts, poorly fitting pants, untied shoes, and with less-than-fresh breath. This wasn’t just any ordinary school day—it was a field trip to the theater!
Perhaps these parents have grasped an important lesson that many of us are still learning: Kids can be a bit messy, and there’s really no point in trying to combat it. Despite their reasons, I want to express my gratitude to these parents, as they helped me feel more at ease about my own parenting efforts, which sometimes leave much to be desired.
So, thank you:
To the parents of the child with two days’ worth of crusty snot on his face:
Initially, I wondered if his mother had even glanced at him that morning. However, this little one prompted me to check my own son’s face, and lo and behold, he had similar remnants around his nostrils. I did instruct him to eat breakfast and brush his teeth, but I can’t say I looked closely at him before leaving.
To the parents of the charming child who sat next to me on the bus:
Sharing the captivating story of how her mother spent “practically all day” combing lice and their eggs from her hair: First of all, I have never slicked my hair back into a ponytail so quickly. Secondly, thank you for alleviating some of my embarrassment over having had lice several times as a child. Now, I’m slightly less anxious thinking about how many times my kids will likely encounter that unwelcome pest in the upcoming years. And now my head itches.
To the parents of the child who boasted about his new motor home:
Four-wheeler, and computer, along with his “really big” pool with a slide: Your child’s tales made me feel much better about our own short sale from seven years ago. When can we arrange a playdate so my kids can experience your impressive collection of toys?
To the parents of the child whose lunch consisted of a pre-packaged PB&J:
A lengthy fruit roll-up, a chocolate rice crispy treat, Cheez-Its, and chocolate milk: You’ve made me feel good about my own efforts to provide healthier options. I admit I felt a bit judgmental here, but maybe your child doesn’t gnaw on the dog’s tail or scratch the paint off the walls when given sugary junk, unlike mine.
To the parents of the child who sprinted ahead of the group:
Momentarily getting lost, lagged behind, hid, and attempted to head-butt everyone: Oh wait, that was my kid. Scratch that.
To the parents of the child who needed water every ten seconds:
And continuously asked me to hold his hat and jacket: Thank you for justifying my decision to teach my child patience and independence rather than indulging every little request. I am, however, still working on his shoe-tying skills since he just learned that two weeks ago. (It’s not my fault the Velcro ones are always on sale!)
To the parents of the child who boasted on the bus about her smelly breath:
And, when asked if she brushed her teeth, revealed she hadn’t and showed off her five silver crowns: You’ve inspired me to put my kids in headlocks tonight and brush their teeth twice. Honestly, that dental work looked prohibitively expensive. I think I’d prefer dealing with lice.
To all these parents: Each of you, in your unique way, has helped me feel better about my parenting journey. Thank you for letting me know, if only for a day, that I’m not completely failing at this incredibly challenging role we call parenting—or at least that I’m not the only one.
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In summary, parenting can be a messy and chaotic experience, but it’s comforting to know that others share similar struggles. We are all learning and growing together, often finding solace in the imperfections of our journeys.