I try really hard not to embarrass my kids. I know I do it, they’ve told me so. But seriously, it isn’t intended. Parents are going to embarrass their kids just by existing.
My issue is the fact that my kids embarrass me. On a regular basis. The tantrums, the hitting, the complete lack of respect when we are out in public. This isn’t something I was in any way prepared for. Prior to having children, I don’t think I ever heard somebody say that their kids embarrassed them. Why? Because it’s not something we like to talk about. It’s embarrassing!
Today at the community pool… my kid embarrassed me.
She was jumping into the water and wasn’t looking where she was jumping. Or who she was jumping on. She jumped right on top of another kid. Yes, it was an accident. An accident that could have been prevented had she in any way been looking where she was jumping. She didn’t.
As any good parent, I told her to get out of the pool and come over to talk to me. I explained to her that she has to look for other people before she just jumps in because she can really hurt someone. She said she didn’t see the kid. I said, “I know because you weren’t looking.” She threw a fit!
Yes, right there she threw a tantrum and wouldn’t stop. I told her she had to sit down on the lounge chair for 10 minutes and then she’d be able to go back in the pool. She didn’t. She continued to sit on the concrete in front of my chair and whine and complain. I asked three times. Three times she ignored me.
I gave her one more warning… sit on the chair or we’re going home. She didn’t. I did. Go home, that is.
Our nice, relaxing day at the pool came to an abrupt end. And now, instead of a 10 minute punishment, she’s stuck with an all-day-in-her-room punishment. No pool. No play. No TV. Nothing.
And me? I have to deal with the fact that my child has no respect for me whatsoever and that I had to drag her home in front of the entire neighborhood.
Super Nanny… I need you!
In case you’re wondering… it was the youngest of the three.
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