If you’re ever in need of a confidence boost in your parenting abilities, consider volunteering for a school field trip. I recently joined my child’s second-grade class on an outing to the theater, and it was quite the eye-opener. I quickly realized there are plenty of parents who seem completely unconcerned about sending their kids to a field trip—of all places—looking like they just rolled out of bed. Think unbuttoned shirts, mismatched pants, untied shoes, and, yes, even the occasional booger-studded face. And this was not just any ordinary school day; it was a day out at the theater!
These parents might have already grasped a truth that many of us are still coming to terms with: kids can be downright messy, and there’s no point in stressing over it. So, I want to extend my gratitude to them for making me feel better about my own parenting shortcomings.
To the parents of the child sporting a face full of what looked like two days’ worth of snot:
My initial thought was, “Did his mother even look at him this morning?” But seeing that kid made me check my own child, only to find he had a similar crustiness around his nostrils. I mean, I told him to eat breakfast and brush his teeth, but I guess I forgot to actually look at him before sending him off…
To the parents of the charming little girl who sat next to me on the bus:
She shared her captivating story about how her mom spent “practically all day” combing lice out of her hair. First of all, I have never slicked my hair back into a ponytail so quickly! Secondly, you made me feel a lot better about my own experiences with lice as a child. Now I’m just left to ponder how many times my kids will likely encounter that delightful parasite in the coming years. And now, of course, my head itches.
To the parents of the boy who boasted about his new motor home:
Four-wheeler, and a house with a “really big” pool: Hearing his tales has made me feel better about the short sale we made seven years ago. When can we arrange a playdate? My family would love to see all those toys!
To the parents of the child whose lunch consisted of a pre-packaged PB&J:
A long fruit roll-up, a chocolate rice crispy treat, Cheez-Its, and chocolate milk: Thanks for helping me feel a bit better about my own lunch packing skills! I’ll admit I felt a little judgmental here, but perhaps your kid doesn’t gnaw on the dog’s tail like mine does when I give him sugar-filled snacks.
To the parents of the kid who seemed to be lost every other minute:
Whether by running ahead, lagging behind, or hiding from the group: Oh wait… that was my child! Never mind!
To the parents of the child who requested water every ten seconds:
And kept asking me to hold his hat and jacket: Thank you for making me feel validated in my decision to teach my kid patience and independence rather than giving in to every little demand. Except with shoe-tying—he just learned that two weeks ago, and, well, Velcro shoes were on sale!
To the parents of the girl who proudly announced on the way home:
That her breath “stunk,” and when asked if she brushed her teeth, simply replied “no” while displaying her five shiny silver crowns: You’ve inspired me to wrestle my kids into headlocks tonight and brush their teeth twice. I’d rather deal with a head full of lice than the dental bills that must come from those crowns!
To all these parents: Each one of you, in your own way, has lifted my spirits about my parenting journey. Thank you for allowing me to feel, even if just for a day, that I’m not completely failing at this sticky, wild ride we call parenting—or at least that I’m not the only one struggling.
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Keyphrase: Parenting struggles
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