The epic bad parenting thread

[RadioFanatic]

this made me laugh out loud. I have wondered the same thing about me. I also noticed that the roof of the car seems lower, than i thought, when taking a child out of the car seat.

ditto!!!

 

[Wall-E1]

I'll tell one on my Mom

I am 40 now and this must have been about 30 years ago - it was definately before people really wore seat belts. We were in my Mom's car (Duster) which was not in the best shape. My BFF and I were in the front seat with my Mom, I was in the middle. We were in a grocery store parking lot and my Mom and I were talking. All of a sudden we looked over and the passenger door had swung open and my BFF was running behind the car! We died laughing but it could have been pretty bad.

I remember Dusters from back in the 70's. And that sounds about right for that brand of car. I have one question. Did your mom stop or keep going?

 

[pixie dust 112]

Love coming to check everyone's stories everyday! I am such a bad parent that I kinow that I have many great stories about how I have wronged my children, but for the life of me I cannot remmeber any to post. I know I have caused physical pain and mental anguish...I'm so bad that I can't remember how I have hurt these children. I appently have dismissed these atrocities from my concious!

Also worth coming to this thread everday just to see how the OPs avatar changes!

 

[harleyquinn]

Also worth coming to this thread everday just to see how the OPs avatar changes!

ITA!

 

[Soldier's*Sweeties]

OMG...these are so funny!(It feels so wrong to laugh at some of these but it's oh so right!)

I can't remember any single instances though.

My husband tells my kids that his food(llike Oreos and stuf he never wants to share) has monsters in the box or bag that want to eat little kids fingers. It took me FOREVER to figure out why my DD would cry everytime I opened something.

But...I laugh at my kids when they fall.(boy/girl twins almost 3) Sometimes so they don't spaz, and sometimes cause it's friggin hilarious.

I let them fight it out over a toy until I can't take the screaming anymore...then I take it away.

I AM so the mom at Wal-Mart who points and laughs at my kids when they throw a fit and/or walk a few feet away and act like I'm not with them.

I let them dress themselves quite often...and yes, I allow them to go out in public like that.

I can't think of anymore I do to MY kids but here's a few other funny stories:

When my husband was around 6 my MIL asked him to keep an eye on his little brother while she ran inside for drinks. When she came back out my husband was dragging his bro around the yard like a dog with a rope around his neck. (His brother was 2)

I used to ride to school with my dad blarring AC/DC and Black Sabbath barring from his awesome 70's van(I started kindergarten in 1990) singing along with every word...yep...when people asked me what my favorite song was I proudly said, "Mr. Crowley!"

When I was little(around my "Mr. Crowley" era) my parents frequently went out with my best freinds parents and would leave us with her ADULT brother. He would ties us to the dresser in her room with enough rope to get to the bathroom and make sure we had food and drinks then go out too. He was always back before the parents. Now here's where the bad parenting comes in... Once he happened to go the same bar that our parents were at. They all came home together VERY late and were all like, "Look who we found!" My friend and I were like, "WHY DIDN'T YOU COME AND GET US?" So my dad(heart of gold, but questionable ethics) replied, "He sounded like it was under control...you're safe right?"

 

[Wall-E1]

I have a slight twist on the regular bad parents(that we all freely admit we are). Do any of you have a darling child that is set on proving to the world that you are a bad parent? Here's what my little angel does...

This started a few weeks before winter break. My son decided to stop doing his schoolwork, chores, etc. Apparently, he was starting winter break early and showing up to school in body only, not mind. I, being the epic failure that I am, could not seem to find a way to motivate him and get him back on track. I decided to call his school guidance counselor and tell her my concerns. She told me that she would speak with my son and get back to me.
A day later I get an email from her. Here it is in its entirety...

Hi Mr. ******,
***** was pretty talkative today in class as I understand it from the teachers. I spoke to him at the end of the day in my office. I don't know that he is really bothered by anything but states that he is very tired when he gets home. He says he doesn't eat because you only have healthy food in the house. While this is a good thing, you may want to see if you can compromise on a few things especially so he will eat breakfast. ...something other than Fiber One he says. We did talk about showering, etc. and he promises he will be both clean and quiet. He only has 4 days to go so we'll see.

Now, let's break apart this letter. We can already see what just happened from the tone of the letter. In the counselor's mind, I am the one who needs to change, not my son. He does this all the time. He is excellent on getting the attention off of him and having it focused somewhere else.

She states in the letter that he is tired when he gets home. This is because my son does not feel that he should have a bedtime. So, he doesn't go to sleep when I tell him to. He also doesn't feel that he should have to show up to school on time the next day, as he is tired from staying up late the night before. Makes perfect sense.

Now, on to the healthy foods.(I love when the guidance counselor asks me to compromise. That's all I ever do.) This is a complete fabrication on my son's part. The only truth is that we do have healthy foods and Fiber One products. I am the one who eats the Fiber One and I don't try forcing it on him. There are chips, cookies, etc. in the house. On this particular day when she wrote the letter, and my son was sadly telling her that we only had Fiber One for breakfast - there was Trix, Frosted Flakes, french toast; pancakes, toaster strudels, eggs; bagels and hot cereal. My son must have forgotten about these options. I sent the guidance counselor back a letter defending myself as I have done here. She has not responded.

You see, it's much easier to believe a sad, starving, teary eyed child who only wants to be fed, than some militant, uncompromising "health nut" parent. Notice also, that his classwork and homework was not brought up in the letter. Is my son amazing or what? Look what he did. He manipulated a college educated adult into believing that I am a bad parent. This is not the first adult that he has done this to, and I'm sure it won't be his last. It always ends with me trying to defend myself.

Anyone else have a child as brilliantly devious as this one is?

 

[pixie dust 112]

I have a slight twist on the regular bad parents(that we all freely admit we are). Do any of you have a darling child that is set on proving to the world that you are a bad parent? Here's what my little angel does...

This started a few weeks before winter break. My son decided to stop doing his schoolwork, chores, etc. Apparently, he was starting winter break early and showing up to school in body only, not mind. I, being the epic failure that I am, could not seem to find a way to motivate him and get him back on track. I decided to call his school guidance counselor and tell her my concerns. She told me that she would speak with my son and get back to me.
A day later I get an email from her. Here it is in its entirety...

Hi Mr. ******,
***** was pretty talkative today in class as I understand it from the teachers. I spoke to him at the end of the day in my office. I don't know that he is really bothered by anything but states that he is very tired when he gets home. He says he doesn't eat because you only have healthy food in the house. While this is a good thing, you may want to see if you can compromise on a few things especially so he will eat breakfast. ...something other than Fiber One he says. We did talk about showering, etc. and he promises he will be both clean and quiet. He only has 4 days to go so we'll see.

Now, let's break apart this letter. We can already see what just happened from the tone of the letter. In the counselor's mind, I am the one who needs to change, not my son. He does this all the time. He is excellent on getting the attention off of him and having it focused somewhere else.

She states in the letter that he is tired when he gets home. This is because my son does not feel that he should have a bedtime. So, he doesn't go to sleep when I tell him to. He also doesn't feel that he should have to show up to school on time the next day, as he is tired from staying up late the night before. Makes perfect sense.

Now, on to the healthy foods.(I love when the guidance counselor asks me to compromise. That's all I ever do.) This is a complete fabrication on my son's part. The only truth is that we do have healthy foods and Fiber One products. I am the one who eats the Fiber One and I don't try forcing it on him. There are chips, cookies, etc. in the house. On this particular day when she wrote the letter, and my son was sadly telling her that we only had Fiber One for breakfast - there was Trix, Frosted Flakes, french toast; pancakes, toaster strudels, eggs; bagels and hot cereal. My son must have forgotten about these options. I sent the guidance counselor back a letter defending myself as I have done here. She has not responded.

You see, it's much easier to believe a sad, starving, teary eyed child who only wants to be fed, than some militant, uncompromising "health nut" parent. Notice also, that his classwork and homework was not brought up in the letter. Is my son amazing or what? Look what he did. He manipulated a college educated adult into believing that I am a bad parent. This is not the first adult that he has done this to, and I'm sure it won't be his last. It always ends with me trying to defend myself.

Anyone else have a child as brilliantly devious as this one is?

Yes!

 

[Wall-E1]

Also worth coming to this thread everday just to see how the OPs avatar changes!

ITA!

Allow me to explain the daily avatar change. You see, on another thread, I am currently pretending to be a redneck. So, I changed my avatar to reflect this. The problem is that my redneck avatar has been seriously creeping me out. So, I have been changing it daily, trying to find something not so creepy. Unfortunately, I am learning that there is no such thing as an un-creepy mullet. If you would like to see the redneck thread, here it is...

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2364144

Today the thread is titled "Hillbilly Review of It's a Small World - pg.35/Hot Military Hunks!/Beatles Memories"
The thread title has been changing daily also, so it will most likely have a new name tomorrow. It's all very complicated. Science always is.

 

[PUZZLDY5]

I can add to this conversation. When my middle son was 3yo him and I were in the front yard of our rented townhouse. He was riding his tricycle up and down the sidewalk. they recently just paved the driveway. (can you see where I'm going with this) I dont know what possesed him to do it but he rode his tricycle down the driveway into the middle ofthe street. I went down there and started yelling at him and spanked him twice on the behind. I picked up the tricycle in one hand and my son with the other and you know what happens when you grab a 3yo by the arm and they know they are in trouble. THEY GO LIMP!!! So, I am struggling with the tricycle and the child to get them back up the hill. Get this my neighbors across the street call CPS on me. They came out and "inspected" my child and said that I obviously didn't hurt him (DUH!) and they left. I guess if he would have gotton hit by a car everything would have been ok.

 

[jjarman]

This reminded me of another bad parent episode. When DS was about 3 he got his first bike. Had training wheels. Well the driveway was on a hill. You know where this is going. He rode down the hill, across the street and into the curb. Flew off the seat and his his weewee on the bar. I laughed. It just looked so much like a Three Stooges episode.

Also, when DS was again about 3 we were at one of those indoor playground places where you can turn the little hellion loose and you get to go to a quiet room and read. I loved this place. Anywhoo when you check in parent gets and armband with child's name on it and child gets and armband too. I guess this is to keep you from trading up for a better kid. When we were getting ready to leave they little worker girl turns to my son, Sam, and says what is your name really sweet. He says Eric only he could not say his R's so it was even cuter, Ewic. I just looked at him like he had lost his mind. I finally convinced her he was my child and she really did not want to visit Ransom of Red Chief. I asked him years later why he did this and he said he just liked the name and wanted his name to be Eric.

 

[erincon23]

I know I have been a bad parent. But I have been having senior moments for many years (did you know insanity is hereditary? you get it from your children... rim shot.. ba boom) and so I don't remember specific incidents. I will try, since they are quite amusing! But this is one my perfect mother actually did to me -- I went to kindergarten in Chicago. We didn't have a bus at that time, or we did but I didn't take it.. I don't know which. My mom used to pick me up every day. One day, I sat on the school steps waiting... and waiting... and finally decided to walk home. I WAS 5! And we lived probably a mile away. I got as far as a gas station (I drove this a few years ago -- it was maybe 5 or 6 blocks) and the attendant stopped me and asked where I was going. He ended up walking me back to school, and waiting until my mom showed up, a few minutes later. At this point, she was probably 30 minutes late -- she had been at my great-aunt's house, and my aunt didn't have a working clock. This is one area where I have been a very good parent, I think -- the memory of that has made me be very conscious of picking my kids up on time!

Erin

 

[pixie dust 112]

Allow me to explain the daily avatar change. You see, on another thread, I am currently pretending to be a redneck. So, I changed my avatar to reflect this. The problem is that my redneck avatar has been seriously creeping me out. So, I have been changing it daily, trying to find something not so creepy. Unfortunately, I am learning that there is no such thing as an un-creepy mullet. If you would like to see the redneck thread, here it is...

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2364144

Today the thread is titled "Hillbilly Review of It's a Small World - pg.35/Hot Military Hunks!/Beatles Memories"
The thread title has been changing daily also, so it will most likely have a new name tomorrow. It's all very complicated. Science always is.

Too funny! I've read through page 25!

 

[paintnolish]

Ooh, bike riding always provides a chance for bad parenting. I let dd ride her new bike without a hemet (she had outgrown her old one). I never wore one, it was just a quick ride, what could happen? She was just going to ride it a little bit. So, she is going down a hill, picking up speed, and I am quite a bit behind her. Then I see her plow into a brick flower bed wall and start to head over the handle bars.Luckily, her long legs kept her from going all the way over, but she popped her front tire and bruised her stomach. We had to walk the bike back home, too.

 

[dismom2]

I suppose I was a bad parent for holding a baby on my lap on an airplane instead of purchasing another seat and locking him in a carseat.

 

[Wall-E1]

This reminded me of another bad parent episode. When DS was about 3 he got his first bike. Had training wheels. Well the driveway was on a hill. You know where this is going. He rode down the hill, across the street and into the curb. Flew off the seat and his his weewee on the bar. I laughed. It just looked so much like a Three Stooges episode.

This is a common bad parenting mistake. We teach our kids how to peddle and ride, but neglect to teach them the importance of brakes. The second bad parenting mistake here was not thinking ahead and videotaping the incident for our enjoyment. Please, bad parents, many phones these days have video features. If you feel an "incident" about to happen, capture the memories on video.

 

[AlexWyattMommy]

Wall-E1 - I just your love your hair today in your avatar. But I should warn you, it kinda makes you look almost like a woman.

 

[paintnolish]

Wall-E1 - I just your love your hair today in your avatar. But I should warn you, it kinda makes you look almost like a woman.

Only kinda', though.

 

[disney_mommy]

Only kinda', though.

 

[Sgt Mickey]

Kate was right everybody wants the Kate haircut it is official. I bet it will be bigger then the Rachel.

 

[ksumn1]

Gotta love the ball breaker haircut...er, sorry the Kate Gosselin cut. A true classic, for sure.