My 4 year old, Curtis, would not focus on lunch. Food was being flung everywhere as he was laughing and showing off. In an effort to get him to eat, I finally sputtered, “If you don’t eat that pizza you are NOT getting a cupcake!”
Pause.
I turned to my friends, my eyes wide, and whispered,” Oh my, did I just say what I think I said?”
My 2 friends and I started side-splitting laughter. I had just bribed my son to eat pizza with a cupcake. Things you never thought you would do as a parent…
It didn’t work, by the way. But the lesson for me, beyond realizing that my children are far from those perfect table manners, is how important it is to accept myself as a mother and have a sense of humor. I am healed by mom friends who laugh at my mistakes with me. Instead of belittling myself for a parenting flop, I could
By: Allison Barrett Carter
