General Chat

mo..

Mean Moms Someday when my children are old enough tounderstand the logic that motivates a parent, I will tell them, as my Mean Mom told me: I loved you enough to ask where you were going, with whom, and what time you would be home. I loved you enough to be silent and let you discover that your new best friend was a creep. I loved you enough to stand over you for two hours while you cleaned your room, a job that should have taken 15 minutes. I loved you enough to let you see anger, disappointment, and tears in my eyes. Children must learn that their parents aren't perfect I loved you enough to let you assume the responsibility for your actions even when the penalties were so harsh they almost broke my heart. But most of all, I loved you enough to say NO when I knew you would hate me for it. Those were the most difficult battles of all. I'm glad I won them, because in the end you won, too And someday when your children are old enough to understand the logic that motivates parents, you will tell them. Was your Mom mean? I know mine was. We had the meanest mother in the whole world! While other kids ate candy for breakfast, we had to have cereal, eggs, and toast. When others had a Pepsi and a Twinkie for lunch, we had to eat sandwiches. And you can guess our mother fixed us a dinner that was different from what other kids had, too. Mother insisted on knowing where we were at all times. You'd think we were convicts in a prison She had to know who our friends were, and what we were doing with them She insisted that if we said we would be gone for an hour, we would be gone for an hour or less. We were ashamed to admit it, but she had the nerve to break the Child Labor Laws by making us work. We had to wash the dishes, make the beds, learn to cook, vacuum the floor, do laundry, empty the trash and all sorts of cruel jobs. I think she would lie awake at night thinking of more things for us to do. She always insisted on us telling the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. By the time we were teenagers, she could read our minds and had eyes in the back of her head Then, life was really tough! Mother wouldn't let our friends just honk the horn when they drove up. They had to come up to the door so she could meet them. While everyone else could date when they were 12 or 13, we had to wait until we were 16. Because of our mother we missed out on lots of things other kids experienced. None of us have ever been caught shoplifting, vandalizing other's property or ever arrested for any crime It was all her fault. Now that we have left home, we are all educated, honest adults. We are doing our best to be mean parents just like Mom was. I think that is what's wrong with the world today. It just doesn't have enough mean moms!

Brilliant. Most Moms today just don't know how to say No and mean it.

nudge. cos its mine lol

Just brilliant. Feel like giving a copy to some of the parents of the children in my class. Too many have forgotten the 'no' word Sharon xx

thanks teresa, very true words and so helpful to me. I have been saying no so much recently to them all!!! Caz xxxxxxxxxx

There are 2 things which stand out in my mind that my mum said me. (1) You will thank me when you are older. (2) And wait until you have children of your own. You will know what I mean. How true those words are. Sue

Heck, have we got the same mum? Was up in Scotland visiting my parents last year and my mum (86) told me off about something. My daughters were in hysterics. I was embarassed. At 50 odd years of age it was quite a shock. Never too old I suppose to get told off by your mum. Must admit though I used the same principles when bringing up my daughters and they are a credit to us. Have two young grandchldren and my daughter is instilling the same values in them. Lots of love, discipline, boundaries and the NO word meaning NO, makes all the difference between a well brought up child and a cretin. Have a nice evening. Aileen xx

Computer Blond, In the school where I taught, the Mums had a special language - 'No' meant ask again. Jay