When I'm a Parent, I'll Never...

Before giving birth to my first child, I often found myself thinking, "When I'm a parent, I'll never..." Most of my ideals about parenthood were based on encounters I witnessed at the mall, the playground, and other public locations. There was the mom in the dressing room who yelled at her child for dialing 911. It was an accident, lady. Just relax! There were the millions of parents who let there kids throw temper tantrums in the middle of the toy aisle. I would never let my kids act that way. DVD players in cars? When I'm a parent, I'll never let my child be glued to a movie in the car.

And then I gave birth.

I became the lunatic mom in the aisles of Target bribing her screaming toddler with promises of toys and candy if only he would let me finish the grocery shopping. I became the mom who insisted on the vehicle equipped with a DVD player and flip down screen. I talk in high-pitched, goofy voices to elicit giggles from my kids and I don't worry how crazy I look to other adults. And yes, I even lose my cool occasionally and snap at the kids, sometimes in public.

Would you believe my kids still think I hung the moon? Despite breaking the majority of my pre-child parenting rules, I have 2 well adjusted, happy children. I've also gained a greater appreciation for others and their choices. I try to remember that I have never walked their path so I can't judge their decisions. And now when I see another parent "letting" their child throw a temper tantrum at the store, I smile inwardly and thank God that today it's not me!