How to traumatize your children
One of the things that worries me most about the children I will probably have in the future is accidentally causing them damage, either physically (dropping them on their heads) or mentally (so they need massive amounts of psychiatric help as adults). In the past few days, I've now heard stories and/or witnessed things which validate my concerns!
I forget how it came up, but David was telling us how, when his daughters, Alison (now 5 or 6) and Grace (3), were doing things that they shouldn't have been or driving him up a wall, he would tell them he was going to "sell them for parts". He had to stop, however, when Ali, in tears started begging him, "Please don't sell me! Don't sell my sister!" Obviously, she'd taken him literally!
Yesterday, Glen and I were at the engagement party of a friend. There were many babies and little kids around. The bride-to-be's sister and brother-in-law have two boys, ages 4 and 1. The brother-in-law was playing with the 4 year old in the backyard. Whiffle ball. Suddenly, they reappeared poolside, the 4 year old's lip quivering and a perfectly round bright red welt in the middle of his torso. Apparently, the ball had been on the ground, and the father decided to "golf" it to the kid so he could catch it. Well, he didn't catch it. "You know what makes stuff like that feel better?" everyone was telling the kid. "Cold pool water!" How great it is when they're little enough for distraction...
Does every parent unintentionally do horrible things to their children?
posted by Jen @ 12:15 PM
1 comments
1 Comments:
every parent is allowed 2 or 3 traumatic events per child.
at some point, you will tell your child you will pick them up at an appointed time. and then will receive a phone call from another adult querying snidely, "your child is here waiting, were you supposed to be here too?" and although that child will continue to remind you, even when they are grown, that you "forgot" them. one lapse of memory is permissable.
at some point, usually when you have finally persuaded yourself to let go, your child will fall, or stumble or crash and receive an injury, necessitating a trip to the emergency room for stitches or setting a bone. when they ask you his name and birthdate, and you forget, this is allowed and in no way an indication of fault on your part.
these are two normal parental lapses. perhaps someone can think of more.
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