My dad insisted we finish all our food at meals. One day, my sibling, clearly full, forced down the last bites and vomited on the table. Dad stopped enforcing the rule after that.
As a child, I noticed my sister wrote her name on walls when drawing with crayons. I advised her to avoid writing her name. Weeks later, she carved my name into a wooden desk.
Teaching my kids to stand up for their beliefs backfired when they declared veggies evil and bedtimes obsolete.
After seeing a news clip about a toddler saving her mom by calling 911, I taught my toddler to dial 911. Five minutes later, two cops were at my door.
When my son was about three, he asked how babies were born. I gave a simple explanation, but he shook his head and said ‘No,’ as if I had told him fake news. I was unprepared for him not believing the truth.
As a nanny, I told a two-year-old she’d have to wait in the car if she didn’t wear her hat. She started walking to the car, saying, “Car.”
A conversation with my son about safe relationships was cut short when he interrupted, saying, “It’s too late.”
Trying to teach my daughter the value of money, I gave her an allowance for chores. One evening, she pulled $2 from her money jar, handed it to me, and said it was for being a good daddy.
Parenting is full of surprises. These experiences have shown that while our lessons may not always work as planned, they lead to moments of growth, learning, and plenty of laughter.