How to Be/Not Be A Good Parent

You don’t bring up issues from years ago. The past is the past. If it’s not a frequent habit, then do not attribute someone to a phase or a tendency that is past and long gone.

You don’t release an outburst of feelings on your family just because you are having a bad day. Your family is the one who is supposed to be make it feel all better when you return home to them from a bad day of work.

You don’t compare your kids to yourself. Your kids are not you. They were brought up by different parents, in a different generation, where everything is different. You can’t blame them for not taking things as seriously as you would and god forbid the use of this quote: “When I was your age…”

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Okay, I shall stop here before anything gets worse, here’s a poem to wrap it up, enjoy:

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When I Was Your Age
by Shel Silverstein
My uncle said, “How do you get to school?”
I said, “By bus,” and my uncle smiled.
“When I was your age,” my uncle said,
“I walked it barefoot–seven miles.”

My uncle said, “How much weight can you tote?”
I said, “One bag of grain.” my uncle laughed.
“When I was your age,” my uncle said,
“I could drive a wagon–and lift a calf.”

My uncle said, “How many fights have you had?”
I said, “Two–and both times I got whipped.”
“When I was your age,” my uncle said,
“I fought every day–and was never licked.”

My uncle said, “How old are you?”
I said, “Nine and a half,” and then
My uncle puffed out his chest and said,
“When I was your age… I was ten.”

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