I went to Chuck E. Cheese again this evening with my CASA kids. I take them there a lot because I like that they stamp hands at the door. More kids places should do that. Anyway, upon seeing that half our pizza had sausage on it, the 7 year old exclaimed what the hell are those? I got after him for it but probably not with the same enthusiasm I would have if he were my kid. After all, how much difference can I make in his language in the 6 or so hours a month I spend with him? The lady at the table next to me gave me a nice glare that stuck with me for awhile. I tried to look at her apologetically but communicating with no words is not my strong suit...we continued eating and talking and playing games and I forgot about it. He let it slip again later on when we were eating dessert and I got after him again. I figured hed probably picked it up from a new foster sibling or tv show or something cuz he hadnt used it before. Before the lady left though, she decided to come up to me in front of her kids and mine and probably a few other people and tell me exactly what she thought about my allowing my kids to participate in activities where they pick up that type of language. After all she works hard to maintain a Christian environment for her kids at home and school and doesnt appreciate my kids poor influence. She was rude and degrading and, even though she was talking to me, I felt like she was bullying them. I hated that shed done it in front of them and that I wasnt quick enough to come up with the perfect response but mostly I hated that she had told everyone observing that she was a Christian and that thats why humiliating another parent and her kids in a public place was OK. Parenting seems to be a hot button issue with pretty much everyone. Everyone seems to think that their way is the best way and that everyone else is doing it wrong. Im not even a parent and I know that. That being said, think twice before you judge someone based on how their kid decides to behave at any given moment in time. Everybody has a story.
Posted on: Wed, 01 Oct 2014 01:48:17 +0000