This...
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I think one of my ultimate goals as a parent is to raise my kids to be thoughtful and considerate human beings. I don't care so much if they grow up to be great scholars, but I do care that they're critical thinkers and that they act with intention and with consideration of others. Sometimes you're out, any random place like the grocery store or whatever, and you see a parent interacting with their child(ren) and it just strikes you in this really sad way that the parent isn't treating their kid(s) with much respect. Like the parent is being shrill or whiny or impatient or just, well, shitty. And yes, I do judge. It's impossible not to. I scowl at those assheads and smile kindly at their kids and hope that my scowl/smile powers are like a little hand squeeze for those kids' souls. And whenever this happens I just get really upset and introspective. Do these parents realize or even care that the way they're treating their kids is actually a hurdle in those kids' paths to greatness?
Being a parent is inconvenient pretty regularly. I see the tradeoff as the joy/honor of being in the company of these pure, amazing, weird little people and helping them become the best selves they can be. If you think it's fine to make them feel bad for inconveniencing you, for taking your time, then I kind of want to chop your head off. Is all.
There is nothing I treasure more than getting to know my kids and actively parenting them. My Otto is the most tender-hearted, inquisitive, creative little guy. My Loretta lives life balls out. They both have my full respect. When they talk to me I will always do my best to listen and ask questions. When they need something I will always attempt to help them or help them to figure it out for themselves. Sometimes I won't get enough sleep or a shower or a haircut before my hair starts looking like all kinds of shiz and I will have ugly eye circles and be smelly. Often I won't get to be on Twitter, or texting, or even writing this blog when I want to. Sometimes it will feel like too much and I will cry my eyes out, that's happened a few times lately just mostly because I'm so tired, but I'm not going to lose sight of the goal. Because look at this amazingness.
