There’s an online magazine called Imperfect Parent. Not surprisingly, they’ve been inundated with submissions and aren’t accepting anymore right now, so I can’t send them the 5,000 essays I could pound out in about an hour.
So I’ll share with you!
A few months ago I went to a Catholic homeschool group meeting. I hadn’t been in almost 2 years (because usually there were not interesting topics, didn’t want to drag all the kids when Aron was traveling, didn’t want to mess with a sitter). That night Aron was at CCD (like religion class for public school and homeschooled kids) preparing for First Communion. So I took the 3 Littles with me to the meeting.
I walked in (1) late with Eva in a sling eating a (2) Dum-Dum sucker. To placate the kids later, I put (3) 7-Up (could’ve been worse … could’ve been something caffeinated) in sippy cups for them. As I was wondering why I took a toddler to a meeting like that, she was (4) screeching and (5) moving chairs all over the place. Oh, and Callie (6) forgot her shoes.
Six parenting infractions. Now ask me if I care. Ask me if it mattered in the Grand Scheme of the Universe. Actually, I think it matters a lot to my kids that I let a lot of things go. We’re not structured, we eat sugar, we watch TV, we forget our shoes and socks sometimes (I once went barefoot to Aron’s cousin’s wedding because I was too busy making sure my 3 kids were dressed).
A couple of days later we went to a boys’ homeschool group Valentine soiree. Joel made 20 Valentines that said, “To a good cid like you.” I didn’t have the heart to tell him how to spell kid until afterwards. And I wasn’t one bit embarrassed that I’m a homeschooler and my 7 ½-year-old doesn’t know how to spell kid yet. I’m proud of him.
I LOVE hearing Imperfect Parent (or Imperfect Human Being, for that matter) stories. Please share!
LOL, Well I can laugh at you without judgment because I do that kind of stuff all the time. No one's perfect, so why do people try so hard to pretend they are? I like your blog, I'll be back again;-)
ReplyDeleteI don't have any mothering experience yet, but I'm fairly sure I won't be perfect. ;-)
ReplyDeleteWell, to start off, I forgot my own shoes to my wedding so I got married barefoot. I'm still barefoot. Just add that I'm pregnant and my hair is in a ponytail. :D
ReplyDeleteOne time I was taking my four kids to my homeschool group that was about a half hour away. I finally arrived and while unloading the kids my son yells, "Mommy! You forgot your daughter!" I screamed so loud that other women in the parking lot looked up to see who the loony was. I raced back home with the kids. Ivy was only a few months old at the time. Maybe 10 months? I raced the half hour home. I couldn't remember where I put her! Did I set her down outside the front door while I was locking it? Was she crawling on the floor at home? I couldn't think! With my heart pounding I finally arrived home and opened the front door with trembling hands. There was little Ivy sleeping in her carrier in the living room. All set to go to the mom's group. I felt like falling over in relief!