My parents used to say the dumbest things. I remember when my dad would yell at me and my brothers, while we were in the car, “Don’t make me pull this car over!” We would just look at each other and laugh. “Dad you’re not gonna pull the car over. You’re trying to beat last year’s trip time!”
Or my mom would say, “Who do you think you are?” I would want to yell back, “Mom, Do I need a name tag? I’m Cam, your son!”
I love it when a parent says, “If you fall out of that tree and break your leg, don’t come running to me!”
I heard Mike Breaux, a Pastor at Willow Creek Community Church, mention that he wondered if Joseph ever said to Jesus when Jesus would leave the back door open, “Boy, were you born in a barn.” “Well yea, I was actually,” Jesus would laugh.
Parents really do say some stupid things. Like when a parent says, “You are just worthless.” “Why aren’t you more like your brother?” “I’ve never seen anyone as stupid as you.” “You’re no good.” “What did I do to deserve you?”
Parents do say some stupid things.
I love little league baseball, and your Y has a great baseball program. Over 1000 kids play every spring and another 500 kids play fall baseball. There is something basic and good about youth baseball. This summer during the Y Coach Pitch league, my son Brooks stood on second base with his glove on his head striking the Karate kid pose! You just have to laugh at that. That is how he garnered the nickname “Mr. Miyagi.”
But baseball parents have a reputation as some of the worst. Early in my Y career I was watching a game with a dad, when the dad said, “I wanted to have a ball player, but it looks like I’ve raised a sissy.” Parents say some stupid things. I just cringed when I heard him say that. I wish I would have had enough guts to say, “You didn’t raise a sissy. You have a raised a beautiful, funny, articulate, smart and inquisitive kid who not only loves life, but for some odd reason he loves you!”
I hope as parents we can start saying things like, “I’m proud of you.” “Way to go.” “You are good.” “I love you.” Kids need building up. They get beat down and degraded enough everywhere else in their life. My personal challenge as a parent is to every day communicate to my kids that even if they lined up all of the children from around the world, I would pick them.
David Chadwick, who led our prayer breakfast a few years ago said it like this, “By the example of how I am parenting my kids today, I am also parenting my grandkids and great grand kids.” Whether your children are infants or fully grown adults with their own children, you still need to set the example. Your Y phrases it as Developing Assets in your kids.
I love this poem by Mary Korzan.
When you thought I wasn’t looking, I saw you hang my first painting on the refrigerator, and I wanted to paint another one.
When you thought I wasn’t looking, I saw you feed a stray cat, and I thought it was good to be kind to animals.
When you thought I wasn’t looking, I saw you make my favorite cake for me, and I knew that little things are special things.
When you thought I wasn’t looking, I heard you say a prayer, and I believed there is a God I could always talk to.
When you thought I wasn’t looking, I felt you kiss me good night, and I felt loved.
When you thought I wasn’t looking, I saw tears come from your eyes, and I learned that sometimes things hurt, but it’s all right to cry.”
When you thought I wasn’t looking, I saw that you cared and I wanted to be everything that I could be.
When you thought I wasn’t looking, I looked…and wanted to say thanks for all the things I saw when you thought I wasn’t looking.
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