Recently, a colleague shared a humorous bumper sticker that said, “Proud Parent of an Amazing Child Who Occasionally Acts Like a Rascal, and That’s Okay.” I couldn’t help but chuckle at this, so when I got home, I decided to look it up online. While I wouldn’t actually purchase it—my children wouldn’t find it amusing to see that I call them rascals on stickers—I couldn’t resist exploring more “Proud Parent” bumper stickers. Here are a few I found:
- Proud Parent of a Compassionate Child
- Proud Parent of a Honor Roll Student
- Proud Parent of Exceptional Kids
- Proud Parent of a Gifted Learner
- Proud Parent of a Well-Behaved Child
- Proud Parent of My Little Superstar
- Proud Parent of Kindhearted Children
Sure, it’s entirely possible that the parents displaying these stickers genuinely have kind, intelligent, and generous kids. But I sometimes wonder if these are the same parents who give me disapproving looks in the grocery store when my child decides to toss a toy. Some of you reading this might be thinking, “Can’t you manage them? Do you even discipline them? Your kids must think they can do whatever they want.” And in some instances, you’d actually be spot on.
I genuinely try my best. There are days when it feels like I’m constantly reminding my children to behave. Yet, there are other days when no one acts up at all. Just the other day, one of my little rascals gave a heartfelt hug to an elderly lady at a nursing home, albeit reluctantly. But on another occasion, that same child thought it would be a good idea to launch a toy across the room. The reality is, sometimes my kids act out, and I’m sure yours do too.
Here’s the thing: Everyone has their moments. Everyone. And if one person isn’t viewing you as acting poorly at a certain time, there’s always someone else who will. This is simply human nature, and it’s nothing to stress over. I wouldn’t be surprised if even historical figures like Gandhi or Abraham Lincoln had their moments. The equation is simple: human = occasional rascal.
I guess what I’m really getting at is that I’m tired of seeing cars with “Kind Kids” stickers while mine are in the backseat misbehaving. I’m exhausted by the idea that my child’s misbehavior reflects my parenting failures. I’ve read too many parenting blogs and magazines, and I’m tired of feeling judged by other parents, even when they may not be judging me at all.
Oh, who am I kidding? I don’t stress about much of that! But I do wish I could find that bumper sticker, because my kids can be rascals sometimes, just like yours.
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Summary
Parenting can be a wild ride, and sometimes our amazing kids act like rascals. It’s a normal part of growing up that doesn’t reflect on our abilities as parents. Embracing the chaos and understanding that everyone has their moments can help ease the pressure we put on ourselves.