I recently read a quote that made me both giggle and nod my head in agreement: “Patience is what parents have when there are witnesses.” When I’m in public – whether at a playgroup, at the store, with friends at the beach or the library – I have infinite patience. “Now, baby, put those books back please,” I say in a calm, yet chipper voice. “Darling, please stop throwing your peas at your sisters,” I reprimand gently in the restaurant, one eye on the table next to us where the older couple is scowling. “No, no,” I softly rebuke, “we don’t need seven boxes of fruit loops. After all, they have,” I glance at the woman staring at my son piling boxes into the car, “high fructose corn syrup.” At home, when we’re all alone, it’s a different story. “If you don’t clean up your room,” I say sternly, “I’m throwing all your toys away.” “Stop throwing your peas or I’ll ship you off to boarding school,” I threaten. “If you don’t stop jumping on your sister, I’m going to lock you in your room for three years,” I snap. “If you’re bored, you can go to bed. I’m not your entertainment director. Go play.” Sometimes I think I’d be a better mom if I had a nanny cam on me at all times. At least, I’d be a more patient mom. How about you? Do you find you have more patience in public than at home? By Mandy Dawson
Posted on: Sat, 26 Oct 2013 17:00:01 +0000
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