Here’s the deal: My wife and I are not the most organized parents in the world. Usually, at least 2 days a week, at least one child will go to school missing their lunchbox. One of us must then run it to the school, and drop it off in the appropriate office before our children go without food.
And bedtimes? We were the kids that stayed up until 3 AM on a school night. And quite frankly, if our aging bodies allowed it — we still would. Needless to say, we do not like mornings. Therefore, every morning we tend to scramble a bit. Sometimes our kids are even a minute or so late. Yes, I hate it too, but it happens.
The thing that baffles me is that some parents aren’t just forgetful and unorganized, they’re completely irresponsible. Basically, they don’t care if their kids have lunch or not. These are the kids with broken zippers on their jackets, no mittens, and bags under their eyes (as 6 year olds). I hate seeing kids like that. And no, it’s not a matter of money. There are coats, mittens, etc. available for those in need. And if your kid doesn’t have a good coat, you’d better swallow your pride and get one. But it’s not even pride, it’s just apathy. How depressing!
Whenever I get upset with my own shortcomings regarding child rearing, I always try to remember how rare caring parents are. At least in this area. There should be a license required for having children. Srsly.
I am *so* with you and Donna on this. We have the occasional late day, the missed bath, the pancakes for supper and the new jeans with a hole in the knee I don’t know how to fix. I’m messy and disorganized at home in some things, and unfortunately childrearing is one of those things. We are the ones screeching to a halt beside the school bus to hand in the permission slip, and we are the ones looking blankly at the teacher and saying “What party?” before pealing out of the parking lot in the other direction to go raid the grocery store bakery.
But irresponsible? Nope. And what’s more I bust my tukas to make sure other kids that don’t even belong to me have what they need too. Children deserve security, safety, protection and care. I’m pretty sure some day I’m going to have a freaked out-but-inept parent call the cops on me for helping their kid at the playground. I’ll have to roll with it when it happens, but I’ll be d@mned if I sit by and watch children go hungry or hurt while their parents sit not 10 feet away from me and do nothing to help their own child.
I’m a little bit passionate about this. You maybe noticed? I’m the mamaist of mama bears. I’m Erma Bombeck’s “cookie mom” with claws and teeth for all children, not just my own.
When I adminned camps, I had situations that would make me cry with rage. Some stuff I can’t even share because it still stabs me right through the heart to think of those children.
A big ramble to say: I feel you. I agree. Right on.
Well, I certainly won’t be winning mother of the year anytime soon (I got a call this week from the school because my kid spelled the F word – he didn’t SAY it because that would be wrong, he spelled it) LOL. Yeah, he proudly announced that Mom says that word all the time. Yippee.
But yes, I hear ya. And it’s not just those in need. I see families that appear to be pretty well off do things that just amaze me. I realize that I put a huge emphasis on education with our children, but some of these parents don’t even bother to open the kid’s binder or check their homework much less call out spelling words. There’s one kid, I swear, her parents must not own a hair brush.
Sigh.
Yeah, so if your kid doesn’t have lunch or a snack (that’s my biggest “I forgot”) or has on two different mittens… I somehow think you’re doing okay.
‘Sides, I bet you call out those spelling words!