On "bad" parents

I think I've worked out some of what gets me so worked up about the latest round of "I'm a good parent and I always watch my kids, but I really hate people who let their kids roam free"

It's this.

Sometimes, I'm a "bad" parent. In my younger days, it's entirely likely that people described me that way more often than sometimes.

I know that mostly I'm a "good" parent but children don't let you hold onto that appellation 24/7. They wander off even while you're watching them. They get tired and hungry. They have an excess of energy that needs to be used up. Sometimes, you haven't yet worked out that they're up to a new stage of development and the thing you've been doing with them doesn't work anymore. Or you haven't spoken to an adult in too long and you sacrifice your child's bad behaviour for a moments peace. Sometimes they're the sort of child who is going through a stage of hitting other children, or throwing temper tantrums. And this is just the "normal" kids and their parents.

Parenting is hard work and people make mistakes.

And witch-hunting people for those mistakes sucks.

Hurrah!

My post on sca_snarksca_snark is up to 115 comments! Most of them are incredibly negative, which isn't unexpected.

Particularly juicy comments include:

What are you doing letting your child read a snark community, for God's sake?
sca_snarkIt all comes down to CONTROL YOUR FUCKING KIDS!
It is called responsibility! Learn the term! Or don't have kids.
Wow. I thought I smelled butthurt somewhere.
Major butthurt on Aisle 2... ::eyeroll::
Sometimes the witch needed burning.
Good god woman, are you thick?...move the fuck along to your next drama.
I really hope you are not teaching pigheadedness and the propensity to be a martyr to your children.
Expecting everyone in your vicinity to watch your kids 'because it takes a village' is a big piece of steaming, self-important crap.
And my favourite response, thankyou Celsa, I bet you love the "Village" when your car is bogged to the axles, mate.

sca_snarkRiding to work today, stewing on this issue, it occured to me that if every parent responded to these stories with, "Sometimes, I'm a bad parent too", maybe we could effect a change in the expectations on parents, or just cut down on the vilification. At least it would give me something to say when I'm too angry to be sensible.