The Joys of Parenting (A funny story)

Ah, the innocence of children. Don't we wish we could all keep that delightful quality about us? Some years back; and I mean back, I had a pretty hectic life raising two sons, going to college and working. I did everything myself. I cooked, cleaned, did the laundry, got the kids ready for school, made sure everyone was happy on the home front. I had no help. Trying to keep it all together was mental and physical challenge, as I'm sure most of you moms out there know.

Everyday I would get up and get the kids off to school, go to school myself, and after school meet my kids at the day care center. One son was in kindergarten and the other was in the fourth grade. My boys enjoyed going to the center as they had friends to play with. It's difficult to set up play dates when you're a busy mom. Day care afforded them the necessary playtime they needed.

One day I arrived at the center to pick up my sons, like I did every day. I walked to my youngest son's class where I saw the children playing and laughing, just having a grand time. Joe was five years old at the time. Everyday the parents were given an activity sheet detailing the children's activities, meals and snacks that they had. I went to Joe's cubby and picked up his jacket and his activity sheet and found a pink slip as well. A pink slip meant that your child was reprimanded for inappropriate behavior. When I looked at the sheet it simply stated, "See teacher".

My son's teacher was a wonderful woman, warm, funny, and lighthearted. So, I approached her with sheepish demeanor and reluctantly asked what Joe had done. She stated to me that it's not as bad as I think so don't worry. Joe got along well with others so I couldn't imagine what he had done.

The teacher explained. "Well, you know every day the children play when they arrive from school and then they all take out their mats and take a nap". I nodded in agreement.  Still my breathing was shallow. I felt like I was walking the plank, very slowly. She went on to say that after the children get up they put their mats away and sit at their tables so they can have a snack. Joe had woken up, put his mat away and came to ask me if he could have snack now.

"I told Joe that all the children had to put their mats away, sit at their tables and be quiet before anyone would get a snack". Again, I shook my head and thought well, of course, that's reasonable.

The teacher continued her story telling me that Joe started walking around trying to get his classmates to put their mats away and sit down because he was hungry. The children had other ideas. They ran about playing and yelling. Finally, they all sat at theirs tables but the sound level was still very noisy.

"That is when Joe walked up to me with an angry look on his face, hands on his hips, stomped his foot on the ground and told me that, These _ _ _ _ing kids won't shut up so I can have my snack.'"

Well, my face turned bright red and I could feel the immediate heat from my blushing face. That's when the teacher said to me that she had all she could do from laughing out loud at Joe's discontentment with the whole situation. The teacher had to call over another teacher to watch the children momentarily so she could go have a good laugh.

I was utterly embarrassed by what she had said. Joe's teacher assured me that although Joe should not have used that type of language that he had, in fact, used those words and stance so appropriately to convey his feelings of frustration. I was mildly relieved at her attitude about the whole thing. She could have just as easily thought of me as a bad parent but instead we had good chuckle about it and I assured here that Joe would be made well aware that, that type of language was not appropriate anywhere, anytime.