I pride myself on having pretty healthy boundaries and in my mind; I never forget that I am the parent in our little family. My children, on the other hand, seem to get confused—they seem to feel there are times when I really need a little direction; a little guidance; and they are just the ones to help me get things straight…
I wish I could say that this child scolding parent stuff is a recent development—something that has taken hold since they have become teenagers or as they are preparing to launch themselves out into the land of independence. When I look back, however, I remember that they have been trying to tell me what to do for quite some time now—probably since they all three started to talk!
I try to remind them that somehow I manage to get myself dressed every morning and that I have managed to run a household pretty much single-handedly for nearly two decades, but they cannot help wanting me to know that I could do so much better. If only I were to do things this way or that; take their advice; if only I had considered going about things the way they have devised, my life would go so much better. How on earth have I managed to bumble along for all this time without their help?!
I’ve been chastised by my kids for all sorts of infractions, from not loading the dishwasher “correctly” to how I answer the phone. Strange that they have forgotten that I was the one who not only taught them to walk and talk, but all sorts of other incidentals as well. Still, I can see that they think it is pretty amazing how we have all managed to get this far when I obviously have so much left to learn…