Free advice to parents who think their kid is the cutest, bestest, and/or smartest kid in the whole wide world

Are you sitting down? If not, where the heck do you keep your computer because who works on a computer while standing up? I have some news I'd like to share with you.


The world does not revolve around your child and there will be times when your child will have to face disappointment.

There. I said it.

I work with children. It's what I do. And I find them all charming in their unique little ways. But not so charming as to think that one child is better or more important than the other. Or that one child should be protected at all costs of ever knowing any disappointment.

So when your child has to be moved to another class due to overcrowding, it really doesn't help for you "give me permission to pick another child." That is akin to wishing bad luck on someone else. Your child was selected. It is time for you to deal help your child learn to see the positives in the situation.

Furthermore, when your child has to be torn away from your legs screaming, "I want my Mommy!" separation anxiety, he/she is often doing that for your benefit. I don't want to hurt your feelings when I tell you most children stop crying within three minutes. It takes me longer than three minutes to get over having to wake up so early in the morning. So when you shout out "Are you happy now?" after I have worked up a sweat carried your darling child to his class, I have just learned to feel sorry for you. It must suck to be stuck with middle school emotions be hard to see your child that upset.

While I believe most parents have good intentions for their children, there are many, many parents who want to protect their child from any and all disappointment. I wish they would realize that the best lesson they could learn from "bad" situations is a positive attitude and the ability to problem solve ways to make it better.

I have a feeling there are going to be a lot of disappointed adults in about 15 years.