Oct. 9, 2023
Recently, a friend of mine shared a bumper sticker that read, “Proud Parent of a Wonderful Kid Who Sometimes Acts Like a Jerk—and That’s Totally Fine.” I couldn’t help but chuckle at it, so when I got home, I decided to look it up online. Not that I’d actually buy it—my kids would probably roll their eyes if I called them jerks on a bumper sticker. But in my search, I stumbled upon a whole collection of “Proud Parent” stickers, including:
- Proud Parent of a Kind-Hearted Child
- Proud Parent of a Homeschool Superstar
- Proud Parent of Exceptional Kids
- Proud Parent of a Gifted Youngster
- Proud Parent of a Well-Behaved Child
- Proud Parent of My Star Achiever
- Proud Parent of Generous Little Ones
You get the idea. Look, I’m sure the parents displaying these stickers genuinely believe they have brilliant and kind children. Yet, I can’t shake the feeling that these are the same folks who sometimes give me the side-eye in Target when my kids decide to have a beanbag chair showdown. Some of you might even be wondering, “Can’t you control them? Is there no discipline at home? Your kids must walk all over you.” Well, on that last part, you might not be entirely wrong.
I do try, I swear! Some days, it feels like I’m constantly reminding my kids not to be little jerks. Other days, I look around and think, “Hey, nobody’s being a jerk today!” Just the other day, one of my little troublemakers gave a heartfelt hug to a stranger at a nursing home. I could tell he wasn’t thrilled about it, but the lady was so sweet, and I guess he felt it was the right thing to do. Yet, there are days when throwing a beanbag chair seems like a good idea too. The reality is, sometimes my kids can act like little jerks—and yours can too.
Here’s the truth: we all have our moments. Everyone can be a jerk at times, and if one person thinks you’re not, there’s always someone else who will. It’s just part of being human. I’d wager that even Mother Teresa had her off days. It’s a simple fact: being human = occasional jerk behavior. And kids are no exception.
What I’m really getting at here is that I’m tired of driving behind cars that proudly declare “Kind Kids With Good Values” while my own children are in the backseat pulling silly faces. I’m worn out from worrying that their misbehavior somehow reflects on my parenting skills. I’ve read enough parenting blogs, magazines, and the dreaded advice from other parents to know that I’m doing it all wrong. Most importantly, I’m over judging myself based on what I think others think—whether they’re actually judging or not.
Oh, who am I fooling? I don’t actually lose sleep over this stuff. But I would love to get my hands on that bumper sticker because, let’s face it, my kids are little jerks sometimes—just like yours.
For more parenting insights, check out this other blog post about effective parenting strategies. Also, if you’re interested in learning about home insemination, you can find authoritative resources at Make A Mom and CDC for comprehensive information.
Summary
Parenting is a rollercoaster, and sometimes our amazing kids can act like jerks. We all have those moments where we question our parenting skills based on our kids’ behavior or the judgment of others. Ultimately, it’s important to embrace the chaos and recognize that everyone has their off days—kids included.