Parents Are Annoying
Posted by Melissa Carter at 11/12/2009 4:02 PM 
Categories: uncategorized
Tags: parents parent Melissa Bert Show parenting Bert Show Q100 annoying Cobb County schools Cobb County
Categories: uncategorized
Tags: parents parent Melissa Bert Show parenting Bert Show Q100 annoying Cobb County schools Cobb County
Ok, ok. Not every parent is annoying, of course, since many of my friends and colleagues are parents. But far too many men and women fall into the category of those too willing to begin their sentences with If you were a parent you would understand...
The latest example is our conversation on the Bert Show today regarding the Cobb County School Board's decision to change their calendar year, shortening the Summers in exchange for more weekly breaks. My position was one of concern for the next generation who may eventually go to year-round schooling. Children without a Summer? Summertime can be so defining for a kid.
No one there has school-age children, so you shouldn't form an opinion on something you don't understand, the listener said. I corrected that Bert indeed had school-age children and that my opinion came from that of a former kid, since I can't understand how adults can forget their own adolescence so easily. She continued to argue that kids should constantly be learning and that potential boredom from long Summers leads to no good.
To me boredom can lead to creativity. My Summers of writing my first "novel" at 6-years-old, pretending to be FBI agents with my best friend and roaming the neighborhood to solve crimes, learning to play tennis with my friends at the local courts, unhealthy tanning with oil, and sitting in the yard with my dog, Polly, and staring at the clouds - all came from boredom.
But the nerve-grinding comment was the fact that I shouldn't even form an opinion since I am not a mother. I even had a comment posted in the previous blog, "The Tummy Tub Is Kinda Freakin' Me Out," that included don't judge something you never tried which is fine except for the seemingly defensive nature of my forming an opinion of a baby product.
I believe in spanking a kid, since I think Time Out doesn't work as well. I believe teachers should be allowed to spank a kid, since I think their inability to discipline students has created an environment of disrespect. And if you don't trust your teachers to discipline your kid, then you are working against the school system rather than trying to partner with it. And if you don't like the teachers in the system, then let's get back to a by-gone era where teaching was one of the most important professions that actually paid like it. And regarding this Summer/no Summer issue - God forbid teachers having to eventually spend the entire year with your kids without the tools to make them behave!
I'm not a parent and am confident that I - and all us barren souls - still hold an important place in this world and can form valid opinions. But as some of these parents would tell it there is a secret key to superiority that can only be found through childbirth. I think much of their common sense and social skills leaked out with the placenta.
I know parents whose kids are simply an extension of their own lives, a part of them they are extremely proud of but that doesn't force them to lose their entire identity. What separates these people from the ones whose kids make them better than everyone else? I'm not sure, but would support Stimulus money being spent on finding out that answer.
Katie Jo and I have talked about having kids, but the actions of so many of these annoying parents isn't really motivating us. If indeed one cannot help but transform themselves into self-important and socially-rude individuals, maybe I'm ok to let the parent thing go. But I'm not comfortable with the idea of letting Summers go for our students.
To learn more about the Cobb County School Board's decision, click here.
To read my blog about the Tummy Tub, click here.
i give you a virtual high-five for this one! : )
Reply to this
I'm responding to your last paragraph.
I think you would be an excellent parent!
One of the reasons I enjoy the Bert Show is your balanced, thoughtful opinion. What a wonderful example you set for any child!
Don't be discouraged!
Reply to this
Holier-than-thou in any flavor is bitter.
(Just so it's clear, I'm referring to the caller).
Reply to this
I am a parent and I am totally with you. I think that the reason why these parents are so gung ho for the possibility of eventual year round school is because they actually won't have to parent their own children. Parenting and all of the crap that comes with it is extremely hard. Disciplining sucks and if I were a lazy person, I'd half ass it, but I'm not and I am committed to raising my own child and doing what will create a socially aware, well rounded individual. If this parent's kid is so psycho that they'll get into trouble just because they're bored, then they obviously did a piss poor job in parenting. This parent isn't concerned about boredom breeding problems, they're concerned because they don't know what the heck to do with their kid during the summer without a teacher to conference with. If they fail at home, the teacher/principal/school is always the fail safe or they can be the ones to blame. Summer vacations have been around for years and neighborhoods are still standing. Maybe it's the lazy parenting of today that is soooo craving for the end of summer vacation. That way, parents won't have to grow some much needed balls and parent/discipline their own kids.
Reply to this
Bravo! Well said.
Reply to this
Summers and childhood go hand and hand! They help kids explore their imagination and there individuality. Music programs, P.E. and summers are what kept me alive.....literally! I think the people that decide to take these things away are selfish and have their priorities messed up
Reply to this