Wardrobe Wednesday
This Wardrobe Wednesday I put together a couple tips on getting out of your fashion box... xoxo! BJG
Temper, Temper...
Yesterday I did something I probably shouldn't have done...
I was walking on a sidewalk beside some stores, headed to get pizza and saw this mother and her 11-ish year old daughter walking toward me. Well, the mother was walking. The daughter was stumbling over herself as she stomped her feet, squealed, and whined about not getting something that she wanted from the store. The look on Moms face was one of tolerable annoyance as she calmly said blah blah blah "I'm tired of your" blah blah blah-- the girl was wailing so loudly I couldn't make Moms words out clearly, but obviously this was a routine situation.
I watched, appalled, as this girl grew bright red in the face and was basically slobbering all over herself as she cried and bellowed and right when they were about to pass me the girl stopped in her tracks and screamed-- literally screamed as loud as she could at her mom. Did I mention she looked about ELEVEN!? (this is where I did the thing I probably shouldn't have done)
I couldn't take it anymore and I looked at the girl and said, sternly, "You are too old to be throwing a temper tantrum, Missy." The girl looked at me, shocked, only for a moment before Mom says "Excuse me! I'll talk to my child! That's none of your business."
Okay, obviously I was out of line, but seriously!?
I was already near the door I was walking into off the sidewalk so I ignored her and went inside to avoid anything else I might say to make matters worse, like, "Then DO IT! So maybe she'll learn some self respect and stop embarrassing herself like this! And then complete strangers won't have to do your job for you!!"
I was all shaky inside when I walked into the pizza place. I tried to consider what I would have done if my daughter were acting that way, for whatever reason, and some stranger scolded her... Honestly I probably would have looked at my kid and said "Wow. A total stranger just scolded you because you're being so bratty. Thats pretty embarrassing for you." And then I would have sat her down and talked to her about who she really is: kind and considerate, peaceful and smart. That she is a better communicator than how she was functioning. That just because she doesn't always get what she wants doesn't mean she's unloved. And I would encourage her to function in the truth of her identity, not out of the impulses of her emotions.
What is happening to these poor children? Why aren't they learning self-respect and respect for others, and respect for their environments? Why aren't they learning that they have something to offer the world instead of being so self-focused that they find it acceptable to throw a tantrum in public as a pre-teen!?
Look, my daughter is only 6 months old, so I'm aware that I have not experienced the realm of mothering a child who is almost a teen. I'm sure there are things I won't understand until I'm there. However, I WAS eleven once and I sure as hell had enough sense not to scream in public.
Am I missing something here? I'd love to hear your thoughts!
Xo BJG
I was walking on a sidewalk beside some stores, headed to get pizza and saw this mother and her 11-ish year old daughter walking toward me. Well, the mother was walking. The daughter was stumbling over herself as she stomped her feet, squealed, and whined about not getting something that she wanted from the store. The look on Moms face was one of tolerable annoyance as she calmly said blah blah blah "I'm tired of your" blah blah blah-- the girl was wailing so loudly I couldn't make Moms words out clearly, but obviously this was a routine situation.
I watched, appalled, as this girl grew bright red in the face and was basically slobbering all over herself as she cried and bellowed and right when they were about to pass me the girl stopped in her tracks and screamed-- literally screamed as loud as she could at her mom. Did I mention she looked about ELEVEN!? (this is where I did the thing I probably shouldn't have done)
I couldn't take it anymore and I looked at the girl and said, sternly, "You are too old to be throwing a temper tantrum, Missy." The girl looked at me, shocked, only for a moment before Mom says "Excuse me! I'll talk to my child! That's none of your business."
Okay, obviously I was out of line, but seriously!?
I was already near the door I was walking into off the sidewalk so I ignored her and went inside to avoid anything else I might say to make matters worse, like, "Then DO IT! So maybe she'll learn some self respect and stop embarrassing herself like this! And then complete strangers won't have to do your job for you!!"
I was all shaky inside when I walked into the pizza place. I tried to consider what I would have done if my daughter were acting that way, for whatever reason, and some stranger scolded her... Honestly I probably would have looked at my kid and said "Wow. A total stranger just scolded you because you're being so bratty. Thats pretty embarrassing for you." And then I would have sat her down and talked to her about who she really is: kind and considerate, peaceful and smart. That she is a better communicator than how she was functioning. That just because she doesn't always get what she wants doesn't mean she's unloved. And I would encourage her to function in the truth of her identity, not out of the impulses of her emotions.
What is happening to these poor children? Why aren't they learning self-respect and respect for others, and respect for their environments? Why aren't they learning that they have something to offer the world instead of being so self-focused that they find it acceptable to throw a tantrum in public as a pre-teen!?
Look, my daughter is only 6 months old, so I'm aware that I have not experienced the realm of mothering a child who is almost a teen. I'm sure there are things I won't understand until I'm there. However, I WAS eleven once and I sure as hell had enough sense not to scream in public.
Am I missing something here? I'd love to hear your thoughts!
Xo BJG
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