From NOT ALWAYS RIGHT: Ah, To See The World Through The Eyes Of A Child
I like to tell the story of planning my daughter’s seventh birthday party. She had two friends in our apartment complex who both had two-year-old sisters, and she wanted to invite both children and both siblings. Then, she stopped and got very concerned.
Daughter: “But… the babies…”
My wife and I were going, “Oh, thank God she’s realized she doesn’t want actual babies at her party.”
Daughter: “They’re both the same age and have the same hair! How will you tell them apart?”
One child was white with brown curls. The other was Black and had natural hair.
I really didn’t want to have to explain how and why it was certain we’d never confuse the two children.
2nd one: When It Comes To Gift-Giving, She’s Got The Eye Of The Elephant
My youngest niece hates it when I tell this story about her. But it was so dang adorable that I can’t help it! When she was four years old, we were having a Christmas party. She heard us talking about exchanging White Elephant gifts. For those that don’t know, a White Elephant gift exchange is when you give someone kind of a joke gift — like if someone turned fifty and you gave them a deck of huge cards because “their eyesight is bad”.
Anywho, my niece heard us talking about doing the gift exchange.
Niece: “Can I do it, too?”
Me: “Sure, if you want! Why don’t you go find something in your room to give?”
My niece ran off to her room and returned a few minutes later holding a stuffed animal, tears in her eyes.
Niece: “I don’t have a white elephant. I have a white tiger. Will that work instead?”
She was so dang cute! She is in her twenties now, so she groans and rolls her eyes when we tell the story. But it is a precious memory to all of us who were there.
I used to tell my child that the hospital gave me an instruction manual. As she got older, she started to doubt it, but to this day, I uphold my statement. She has children of her own. I need to ask her if she got two manuals.
You may not always understand your kids, and you may not always agree with your kids, but you can always accept them and love them and encourage them to be who they are, even if you don’t get it.
Ratkin Premium Member 11 months ago
Expiration date: 13 years from now
allen@home 11 months ago
Good instructions.
chief tommy 11 months ago
every parent needs to heed this. wish I had
Shikamoo Premium Member 11 months ago
Best instructions ever.
seanfear 11 months ago
ok ok – now how to turn the volume down?
Yakety Sax 11 months ago
From NOT ALWAYS RIGHT: Ah, To See The World Through The Eyes Of A Child
I like to tell the story of planning my daughter’s seventh birthday party. She had two friends in our apartment complex who both had two-year-old sisters, and she wanted to invite both children and both siblings. Then, she stopped and got very concerned.
Daughter: “But… the babies…”
My wife and I were going, “Oh, thank God she’s realized she doesn’t want actual babies at her party.”
Daughter: “They’re both the same age and have the same hair! How will you tell them apart?”
One child was white with brown curls. The other was Black and had natural hair.
I really didn’t want to have to explain how and why it was certain we’d never confuse the two children.
2nd one: When It Comes To Gift-Giving, She’s Got The Eye Of The Elephant
My youngest niece hates it when I tell this story about her. But it was so dang adorable that I can’t help it! When she was four years old, we were having a Christmas party. She heard us talking about exchanging White Elephant gifts. For those that don’t know, a White Elephant gift exchange is when you give someone kind of a joke gift — like if someone turned fifty and you gave them a deck of huge cards because “their eyesight is bad”.
Anywho, my niece heard us talking about doing the gift exchange.
Niece: “Can I do it, too?”
Me: “Sure, if you want! Why don’t you go find something in your room to give?”
My niece ran off to her room and returned a few minutes later holding a stuffed animal, tears in her eyes.
Niece: “I don’t have a white elephant. I have a white tiger. Will that work instead?”
She was so dang cute! She is in her twenties now, so she groans and rolls her eyes when we tell the story. But it is a precious memory to all of us who were there.
Not my stories.
Macushlalondra 11 months ago
Could someone go back to the day I was born and give this to my mother?
Gent 11 months ago
Mama bears is needs no instructions. Bears is smarter than average hyoomins.
Darryl Heine 11 months ago
Baby New Year?
Huckleberry Hiroshima 11 months ago
No expiration date.
ladykat 11 months ago
mac04416 11 months ago
Instructions is one thing, it’s the owner’s manual that they lost for all three of mine.
dflak 11 months ago
You do not have to be the perfect parent. Kids will cut you a lot of slack if they know that you are trying.
clayusmcret Premium Member 11 months ago
…but be the adult. They’ll be your friend later.
sarahbowl1 Premium Member 11 months ago
I like that!
R Humble 11 months ago
Sounds easy but just wait until the twos and the teens. That’s when it gets real but worth it.
KEA 11 months ago
Could come with a recording of CSN’s “Teach Your Children”
ira.crank 11 months ago
Warning: can be harmful to physical and mental health
sallyseckman 11 months ago
There’s lots of ways to raise a child but this is the definite golden rule to follow.
thejanith Premium Member 11 months ago
Love it! This brings to mind the old saying “There is no way to be a perfect parent — but there are a million ways to be a good one!”
Moonkey Premium Member 11 months ago
I used to tell my child that the hospital gave me an instruction manual. As she got older, she started to doubt it, but to this day, I uphold my statement. She has children of her own. I need to ask her if she got two manuals.
TrixieinDixie Premium Member 11 months ago
You may not always understand your kids, and you may not always agree with your kids, but you can always accept them and love them and encourage them to be who they are, even if you don’t get it.
Ka`ōnōhi`ula`okahōkūmiomio`ehiku Premium Member 11 months ago
Mark, it is now confirmed you have a heart.
rickmac1937 Premium Member 11 months ago
Great note
rhpii 11 months ago
And while you are at it, mold them into responsible adults and citizens.
John Lustig (Last Kiss) creator 11 months ago
Amen!
mistercatworks 11 months ago
I wish parents had to spent at least as much time training to raise a child as you do to get licensed to drive a motor vehicle.
dnotkin Premium Member 11 months ago
Is that couple 2 women?
BQuirky 11 months ago
Definitely fits this generation; “Don’t teach your child to become a useful contributor to society, accept their basic nature of selfish entitlement.”