Biting your tongue
In a world full of tweens getting dropped off with their stuff hanging out, it's very hard to not comment. I always tell the kids to keep their negative comments to themselves and i usually like to follow my own advice but that can be a challenge some days. With children always in earshot, I bite my tongue as much as possible but sometimes it's early and the caffeine hasn't fully worked it's way into my bloodstream. I'm afraid the children will learn that if they want the uncensored truth about something they should ask morning mom. In the moments of unfiltered judgment, when I actually can stop the words, there is no controlling my face. I can only do so much.
There are moments when I've been unable to stop the words and muttered things I'd rather forget. Don't ask me my feelings on black lace or Tiger Woods. See also: why can't I have this dress and people I'd like to see loose.
Honestly, though, have you seen what's going on out there? I saw a girl no older than twelve in three inch heels today. Um, no. First of all, I don't even wear heels and I'm a grown woman. That is an unnecessary evil. Second, in my day we wore Culottes and Keds. It was hideous but at least appropriate and you could still be a kid. I'd like my kids to think more about what class is--up next vs. how they're going to walk down the stairs with our falling.
Then there's the other extreme of fashion trends, which include wearing an oversized t-shirt that hangs over your shorts. When I commented that it looks like people aren't wearing pants at all, I was met with, 'That's the fashion' and an eye roll. Honey, let's call that what it is---pajamas.
The next is the age old midriff tanks and shirts that I really thought were banned at school but judging by the sea of children leaving school, I'm guessing I was wrong. YOLO other peoples kids.
In our house, we have some guidelines for school dress code. Actually, we have guidelines for what is acceptable in general, not just for school. I think it's important to teach kids not to judge a book by it's cover but equally important that first impressions are a real thing and they should think about how they present themselves.
I usually turn a blind eye to the crazy combos and color pairings, because they say I'm wild in a cute way and possibly color blind. However, I may mention that navy and black don't go together (blavy isn't a thing!) or 'I see you're wearing a dress shirt with athletic shorts and mixing genres, would you care to reconsider'? I may even be as critical as to say, 'Please fix this and then gesture with my hand to the problem'. I'm a mom and that's what we do.
I try not to be too critical or at the very least not to verbalize my criticisms but the bottom line is we all are critics to some extent, especially moms. Probably because we feel responsible for our children and all the people they surround themselves with. It takes a village and we are trying to manage that village to the best of our ability and sometimes that puts us moms in a judg-y place. I fight it as much as I can and remind myself 'Not my circus, not my monkeys' but internally weep for humanity.
There are moments when I've been unable to stop the words and muttered things I'd rather forget. Don't ask me my feelings on black lace or Tiger Woods. See also: why can't I have this dress and people I'd like to see loose.
Honestly, though, have you seen what's going on out there? I saw a girl no older than twelve in three inch heels today. Um, no. First of all, I don't even wear heels and I'm a grown woman. That is an unnecessary evil. Second, in my day we wore Culottes and Keds. It was hideous but at least appropriate and you could still be a kid. I'd like my kids to think more about what class is--up next vs. how they're going to walk down the stairs with our falling.
Then there's the other extreme of fashion trends, which include wearing an oversized t-shirt that hangs over your shorts. When I commented that it looks like people aren't wearing pants at all, I was met with, 'That's the fashion' and an eye roll. Honey, let's call that what it is---pajamas.
The next is the age old midriff tanks and shirts that I really thought were banned at school but judging by the sea of children leaving school, I'm guessing I was wrong. YOLO other peoples kids.
In our house, we have some guidelines for school dress code. Actually, we have guidelines for what is acceptable in general, not just for school. I think it's important to teach kids not to judge a book by it's cover but equally important that first impressions are a real thing and they should think about how they present themselves.
I usually turn a blind eye to the crazy combos and color pairings, because they say I'm wild in a cute way and possibly color blind. However, I may mention that navy and black don't go together (blavy isn't a thing!) or 'I see you're wearing a dress shirt with athletic shorts and mixing genres, would you care to reconsider'? I may even be as critical as to say, 'Please fix this and then gesture with my hand to the problem'. I'm a mom and that's what we do.
I try not to be too critical or at the very least not to verbalize my criticisms but the bottom line is we all are critics to some extent, especially moms. Probably because we feel responsible for our children and all the people they surround themselves with. It takes a village and we are trying to manage that village to the best of our ability and sometimes that puts us moms in a judg-y place. I fight it as much as I can and remind myself 'Not my circus, not my monkeys' but internally weep for humanity.
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