I remember when I was the expert at parenting. I had answers to most every parenting problem there was and was so confident in my advice I was willing to offer it for free, often without being asked.  I know. How thoughtful and generous of me.

Then I got married and had kids.

I have to admit there are times I would like to go back and slap that earlier version of myself and knock him off his high horse. (Any of you reading this who were the recipients of my former-self’s advice, you may go back and slap him, too.)

Celebrating humanity is just as much acknowledging, accepting and even embracing our shortcomings, as it is recognizing the positive things we do. I suggest there is no better topic to point out our humanness than parenting.

I think I am a pretty typical parent. Doing the best I can but making mistakes everyday – often the same mistakes over and over. Still, there are times I find myself wanting to put money into a therapy account for my kids to use when they are adults because of all the mistakes I make.  

One of the best therapies for me as a parent is hanging out with other parents. Sure is it nice to get a few hours, even a night, away. More importantly, it is great to hear the stories other parents tell so I can be reminded I am fairly normal. Today, therefore, I am providing a little free therapy for those of you who are parents and maybe just a little humor for those of you who are not.

Here goes. Several years ago, when my daughter was around four, she asked if she could have a piece of gum that was sitting on the counter. For some good reason neither of us now remembers, my wife and I said no. (It probably had something to do with finding chewed gum getting stuck around the house.) So instead, our daughter asked if she could have some candy from the candy jar. We said yes.  She chose some Smarties. 

A little while later, we noticed our daughter was chewing on something. We asked her if she took a piece of gum from the counter. She said no. We then asked her how the gum got in her mouth and she said the candy “magically” turned to gum. Catching her in an obvious lie, we gently tried to persuade her to tell the truth, using the “what you did was wrong and you will have consequences but not telling the truth about it is worse” line. She stuck with her silly story. We were a little worried that something pathological might be going on so we gently pressed a little more and still no change in her story. I don’t really remember how the discussion ended or the consequence we gave her.  We definitely let her know our disappointment in her for not telling the truth and hoped a little guilt might change the behavior next time.

Life went on and a month or so later, I needed to satisfy my sweet tooth.  I looked into the candy jar and saw some Smarties and popped a roll into my mouth.  I started chewing and “magically” the Smarties turned to gum.  I never knew Smarties made a gum!

Needless to say, my wife and I went to our daughter with our tails between our legs begging for her forgiveness.

Thankfully, our daughter accepted our apology and we still laugh about it today, which is fortunate since I have not yet opened up the therapy account.