Dear Oblivious Parent in the Supermarket:

Let’s talk for a minute about what it means to be a Parent- a real one. Parents teach their children morals and values, right? They learn how to say, “please,” and “thank you,” and more from the Parent. Real Parents care about fulfilling a child’s emotional, spiritual, and physical wants and needs, right?

So why the heck aren’t you Parenting? Why are you allowing your child to take things out of my shopping cart and throw them on the ground? Why are you OK with your child running up and down the aisles, pushing anyone who gets in her way? Why do you think it is OK to look at me, smile, and say “Toddlers”? I have a Toddler. She was sitting in the cart, behaving.

You, you are the reason our society is so screwed up. You are the reason that third graders plot to “take out” their teacher. You are the reason that 15 years old think it is alright to throw watermelons off bridges and into rush hour traffic.

And you are the reason that I hate people.

Sincerely,

The mother who almost gave you and your child and open-handed slap to the face.

————–

Originally posted on my now defunct blog “Wag the Dog”

Tags: Education, parenting, responsibility