A friend recently shared with me a bumper sticker that read, “Proud Parent of an Amazing Kid Who Sometimes Acts Like a Brat and That’s Okay.” I couldn’t help but chuckle at that, and once I got home, I found myself searching for it online. Not that I would actually buy one — my kids wouldn’t appreciate me calling them brats on a bumper sticker. Yet, I stumbled upon numerous other “Proud Parent” stickers during my search. Here’s a sampling:
- Proud Parent of a Compassionate Child
- Proud Parent of an Honor Roll Student
- Proud Parent of Wonderful Kids
- Proud Parent of a Gifted Child
- Proud Parent of a Child With Strong Values
- Proud Parent of My Star Scholar
- Proud Parent of Generous Kids
While I’m sure these parents genuinely believe their kids are as fantastic as they claim, I can’t shake the feeling that they might be the same ones who give me judgmental looks in the grocery store when my child decides to throw a tantrum over a toy. You might be reading this and thinking, “Can’t you control them? Do you even discipline your kids? It seems like they walk all over you!” And, to a degree, you’d be right.
It’s not like I don’t put in the effort. Some days, I feel like I’m constantly reminding my kids not to be brats. Yet, there are days when I realize nobody acted out at all. Just the other day, my youngest, who can be quite a handful, hugged a stranger in a nursing home because she was so sweet and asked kindly. But then, there are moments like the time he tossed a beanbag chair at his sibling — clearly not his best moment. The reality is that sometimes kids can be brats, just like all of us.
Here’s the truth: everyone has their moments. We all have days where we might come off as less than pleasant. I wouldn’t be surprised if even historical figures like Gandhi or Lincoln had their share of off days. It’s a universal truth: being human means being a brat sometimes, and that applies to kids too.
What I’m really saying is that I’m getting tired of seeing cars that boast “Kind Kids With Strong Values” while mine are in the backseat bickering. I don’t want to feel like every misstep my child makes reflects my parenting. I’ve consumed one too many parenting blogs, magazines, and the opinions of other parents telling me, “You’re doing it wrong; here’s how to fix it.” Most of all, I’m exhausted from judging myself based on what I think others think.
But who am I kidding? I don’t dwell too much on that. I just wish I could get my hands on that bumper sticker, because, let’s face it, my kids can definitely be brats sometimes — just like yours.
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In summary, every child has their moments of mischief, and it’s a part of growing up. We all go through phases where our kids might not behave perfectly, and that’s completely normal. So let’s embrace the chaos together!