Why do people hate the Proud of your Honor Student for Bumper Stickers?

[luvsJack]

Y'all are a bunch of fuddy duddies!!!

Yes, I wear buttons with pictures of my kids to their sporting events. I also wear light up dread locks in the team colors, ring cowbells (that are also in team colors), have light up team colored spirit sticks, shake pom poms, and wear shirts that say "Child's Name's Mom." Especially on my daughter's cheer team. We all do it. It's highly encouraged by the coaches so we run with it. We have a great time and it pumps the kids up. Ain't nothing wrong with that! I do not think of myself as too cool to participate in a little team spirit.

My kids think it's hilarious! So do their friends. It's all in good fun. My children have fabulous personalities and senses of humor. They cheer just as loudly for each other as I do for each of them. I LOVE that!

So go ahead and think youself superior while you give the polite golf clap and praise for nothing in particluar. I'll keep turning cartwheels with my spirit sticks lit.

ETA: on my daughter's cheer team (not a sideline team, a traveling, National competition team) the parents who don't wear the light up dreads, team shirts, ring cowbells, ect are the ones that stand out. So, no, this is not attention seeking behavior, it's just team spirit and it works. It totally pumps them up! They win every competition they go to. :0)

I can assure you that I showed PLENTY of support and spirit for my kids and their teams without wearing their name nor their picture all over me.

The set of parents I have always sat with are the loudest and cheering the most. We always had our "spirit cans" which consisted of drink cans with rocks inside and the tops taped up, spray painted in team colors--and Lordy, can we make those things rattle.

When ds played ball, if a homerun was hit, the entire stands stood up yelling "WHOOP, there it is!", loud enough to shake the town.

We were quite obnoxious without the t-shirts and the pins!

And as both sons attended and dd will attend an agriculture school, you can bet the cowbells are plentiful.

But, I get what you are saying, it does help the team if the crowd is cheering and gets the team up and ready to play, cheer, whatever.

 

[Family Fun Mom]

I have one child who makes Honor Roll, one who never has, and one too young (they don't start it until 5th grade in our district) but based on the work he has been putting out his year, he probably wouldn't be on it. The difference in their intelligence? Nada. None whatsoever. The one who makes Honor Roll does so because she cares about her grades and works hard to earn them. The other two do not. They are every bit as smart as their sister but they hate school and give minimal effort. Their grades reflect that effort. If seeing the "Proud Parent" sticker on my car hurts their poor fragile wittle self esteems then they should work harder and earn one of their own. ( I can see an exception to this if you have a child with a disability of some sort but that isn't the case with my kids)

I have never, nor will I ever, tone down the accomplishments of one child because it might "hurt" another's feelings. That is just silly. My daughter makes Honor Roll but she is terrible at any sport that involves a ball. She couldn't play baseball to save her life. Does that mean I shouldn't celebrate when my sons steal a base or hit a home run? Of course not! Silly! I don't play that "you favor this child over me" game with them. I won't allow that type of bellyaching and self pity around me.

Each of my kids are good at their own things and each receive plenty of praise and pride for those accomplishments. I encourage them to cheer for one another and be happy for each other. So far it seems to be working. Even if I have only one "Proud Honor Roll Mom" sticker on my car. I have picture buttons of all three

 

[QueenRocks]

A couple of summers ago, I saw an SUV and written on both back side windows was "4 kids + Staight As = Awesome". I guess the parents wanted the entire city to know of their children's accomplishments.

 

[luvsJack]

Some kids aren't going to make the honor roll and don't have a disability either just like some kids are star athletes and some aren't.

Two sons--one was able to make the honor roll simply showing up to class. He NEVER had to study, EVER. The other had to work hard to keep his grades up and he made the honor roll sometimes and many times he didn't.

I showed the first one that I was proud of him in ways that didn't make the other think he was less because it didn't come as easy.

In the same way I showed the one that wasn't as athletic that I was proud of the effort he put into the sports he played as I was of the other one that never met a ball sport he couldn't play.

 

[Planogirl]

I would agree that I don't see the point of all of those stickers and things but I don't see the point of trying to make people feel bad who put those on their vehicles. Live and let live.

By the way, I saw the posts about it being easy to make honor roll at the local schools. It isn't easy here. You have to actually work for it. But again, I wouldn't brag.

As for school stickers, those are big around here partially because so many alumni continue to support their schools. Again, whatever floats your boat.

 

[Mkrop]

Hmmm I have to say I do struggle with this. I do think that our kids' accomplishments should be acknowledged and I really do hate the "everyone gets a trophy" attitude all the time. However, I do think we need to make an effort to show each of our own kids that we're proud of them. For example, I know someone with 2 sons in college. One goes to a military academy and the other to a state university - admittedly not one well known for academics. She's got three stickers on the back of her car for the military academy and not one for the state university. I am glad she's proud of her older son, but wonder how the second feels when he sees that. (By the way, those are the only stickers on her car.)
I've never put an "honor student" sticker on my car, but then again I hate bumper stickers. (And if your kid doesn't make the honor roll the next semester are you supposed to peel it off?)

That's a shame, that would be an easy fix, put both schools

Not saying you shouldn't celebrate the child being on the honor roll, but I think the bumper sticker is more in your face. The sibling would see it every single day for as long as it was on the car, whereas, I would imagine you wouldn't congratulate your honor student in front of the sibling every single day, right? We need to affirm all our kids, whether they are on the honor roll, or worked their hardest to get a B. When I was in school, I didn't even have to study to make straight A's. My son, on the other hand, works as hard as he can and makes some B's and even C's. I acknowledge his hard work, because for him, that C may have been really hard to earn. And no, I am not saying give every child a trophy. I am talking words of affirmation from a parent.

I would love to put a sticker on my car that said "Proud mom of a perfectly average child".

Because the bumper sticker never goes away. The non-honor roll kid sees it every day, day in and day out when he jumps into the vehicle. Congratulating a child on good grades or the game winning basket and celebrating with ice cream is a one time thing. It won't be brought up every day of the week for the next year and you won't celebrate it every day.

Ok maybe the ice cream was a bad example...so what you are saying is that since the bumper sticker never goes away then any reminder of the accomplishment would hurt the sibling's feelings...so no pictures of the child with a medal, no trophies in the house, none of those go away, they are constant reminders...and I guess you could not have a the child wear a Yale sweatshirt if she won a scholarship bc that would be a constant reminder that his sister won and he didnt...do you see what I am saying, why is one thing acceptable yet the bumper sticker is not I still do not get what the difference btw the bumper sticker and some other acknowledgement

 

[luvmy3]

I would agree that I don't see the point of all of those stickers and things but I don't see the point of trying to make people feel bad who put those on their vehicles. Live and let live.

Nobody is trying to make anyone feel bad, but if someone is going to publicly display those stickers, then they need to expect public opinions about them, including ones that aren't positive.

 

[LisaR]

Ok maybe the ice cream was a bad example...so what you are saying is that since the bumper sticker never goes away then any reminder of the accomplishment would hurt the sibling's feelings...so no pictures of the child with a medal, no trophies in the house, none of those go away, they are constant reminders...and I guess you could not have a the child wear a Yale sweatshirt if she won a scholarship bc that would be a constant reminder that his sister won and he didnt...do you see what I am saying, why is one thing acceptable yet the bumper sticker is not I still do not get what the difference btw the bumper sticker and some other acknowledgement

Well, a normal sweatshirt with Yale on it wouldn't be a big deal unless it had, "I'm so smart that I received a free ride scholarship to Yale" emblazoned on the back.

Both of my kids have won trophies and both are displayed in the main part of the house for a day or two and then they go into their bedroom if they choose to continue to display them. Of course, I find most trophies to be a joke since nowadays everyone wins one no matter what.

I am not remotely opposed to congratulating one kid when they did something terrific. I personally don't find good grades to be something that we should throw a party over. We congratulate them, tell them we are proud, and move on.

My kids are homeschooled. No honor roll bumper stickers for them! My oldest is dual enrolled at the community college and has made the President's List every semester. I think that is a great accomplishment. I say, "Good job. I'm really proud of you" and we move on. I'm not sure what else I should do?? I'm not putting that on my car, wearing a t-shirt advertising it, or posting it on Facebook. I only posted it here to make the point. I don't see why there needs to be much more said about it to the child.

So let's say you put the proud parent honor roll bumper sticker on your car this year and your child doesn't make the honor roll next year, does that mean you aren't proud of your child anymore? Of course not. How would you go about letting your child know you are still proud of them if you don't have a bumper sticker to prove it? The same way everyone else does who chooses not to put it on a bumper sticker. But again, whatever works for you. I really don't care but it seems silly to me to advertise everything my kids do that make me proud of them.

 

[Missy1961]

It's probably a good thing I don't have kids. Because if I did, and they made the honor roll, I'd be one of those annoying parents with one of those bumper stickers. As it is, I brag about my nieces and nephews all the time--and I have 14 of them. So I'm sure everybody who knows me is sick of my bragging.

 

[DeltaDiamond001]

While I personally wouldn't put one on my car, I can see why some parents would.

Perhaps the child (or children) had great difficulty to achieve Honor Roll type grades.

Perhaps the parents were never given the tools to do better than average and want to show their children that they are, indeed, proud of their accomplishments.

Or, perhaps the parents just want to brag a little bit. Who knows.

Whatever the reason, I'm fine with the bumper stickers. As long as it isn't profane or overly political or religious, it doesn't bother me.

 

[angwill]

I think they're silly, and my daughter is on the honor roll. She knows we're proud of her, and that's what matters. Honor roll students are a dime a dozen. Sure, it's great that a kid is on it, but honestly, I don't see it as a major accomplishment in life.

Exactly, and my son is on honor roll as well as a several hundred others at his school. I am more proud when he volunteers to help out in the community than any sport or academic acomplishments and I wouldn't brag about that either.

 

[sparklynails23]

I'd rather see those honor roll bumper stickers than the R.I.P. window stickers. Those are kind of creepy; why display them on a car?

 

[disney4us2002]

What is the difference between bragging and just so proud you feel like bubbling over? I have a car magnet stating my son is a baseball player at a specific university. I'm not intending to brag - I am just beyond bubbly with his success and sooooo proud. He is also an engineering major and working his **** off but I couldn't be any prouder that he is living his dream. Isn't that what every parent prays for? I suppose if people think I'm bragging, so be it. That isn't my intention. I'm still leaving the magnet, lol.

 

[Mkrop]

Well, a normal sweatshirt with Yale on it wouldn't be a big deal unless it had, "I'm so smart that I received a free ride scholarship to Yale" emblazoned on the back.

Both of my kids have won trophies and both are displayed in the main part of the house for a day or two and then they go into their bedroom if they choose to continue to display them. Of course, I find most trophies to be a joke since nowadays everyone wins one no matter what.

I am not remotely opposed to congratulating one kid when they did something terrific. I personally don't find good grades to be something that we should throw a party over. We congratulate them, tell them we are proud, and move on.

My kids are homeschooled. No honor roll bumper stickers for them! My oldest is dual enrolled at the community college and has made the President's List every semester. I think that is a great accomplishment. I say, "Good job. I'm really proud of you" and we move on. I'm not sure what else I should do?? I'm not putting that on my car, wearing a t-shirt advertising it, or posting it on Facebook. I only posted it here to make the point. I don't see why there needs to be much more said about it to the child.

So let's say you put the proud parent honor roll bumper sticker on your car this year and your child doesn't make the honor roll next year, does that mean you aren't proud of your child anymore? Of course not. How would you go about letting your child know you are still proud of them if you don't have a bumper sticker to prove it? The same way everyone else does who chooses not to put it on a bumper sticker. But again, whatever works for you. I really don't care but it seems silly to me to advertise everything my kids do that make me proud of them.

But once again that sweatshirt would be that constant reminder, or for example my son has a Parade of Champions football jacket. He wears it all the time bc he is proud his team won. It says that title on the back, should he not wear it bc all the JV kids who had a lousy season might feel bad, or bc his brother's Flag football team did not make it to the playoffs.

Plus once again unless the kids dont share a room, that trophy is a constant reminder day in and day out that one kid won and the other didnt.

So I do not see the difference still!

ETA: And why are good grades not something to celebrate...no one said throw a party for it, but some choose to stick a bumper sticker on their car. If you do bumper stickers what accomplishment would you put on your car????

 

[torinsmom]

Parents can do whatever they want, obviously, but to me the difference in a child wearing a college shirt or having a trophy in their room and parents putting a bumper sticker on their car is that the PARENTS are putting the value on the accomplishment, or at least it seems that way when I see that bumper sticker. I read it "I am proud of my child BECAUSE he is an honor student." I always wonder if people take the bumper sticker off if their child doesn't make the honor roll the next semester, or if they mark out IS and write in WAS, LOL. I would hope the child knows that the parents would love and be proud of him even if he didn't make the honor roll.

 

[Mkrop]

Parents can do whatever they want, obviously, but to me the difference in a child wearing a college shirt or having a trophy in their room and parents putting a bumper sticker on their car is that the PARENTS are putting the value on the accomplishment, or at least it seems that way when I see that bumper sticker. I read it "I am proud of my child BECAUSE he is an honor student." I always wonder if people take the bumper sticker off if their child doesn't make the honor roll the next semester, or if they mark out IS and write in WAS, LOL. I would hope the child knows that the parents would love and be proud of him even if he didn't make the honor roll.

I would hope so too, but I would be proud of my kids no matter what they accomplish. And parents should put a value on any accomplishment and that includes Honor Roll (unless it is not a real accomplishment at the school) But once again, do you have issue with a bumper sticker for a team bumper sticker that require tryouts? Around here many people have bumper stickers for soccer teams, LAX etc that you only make if you are the best of the best in that sport...are they ok to you? Or is that parent putting a value on that accomplishment as well? Or the team jackets displaying championships etc?

 

[Acklander]

It's probably a good thing I don't have kids. Because if I did, and they made the honor roll, I'd be one of those annoying parents with one of those bumper stickers. As it is, I brag about my nieces and nephews all the time--and I have 14 of them. So I'm sure everybody who knows me is sick of my bragging.

It's different with nieces and nephews (and grand kids). Because you don't have the responsibility of making sure they are launched into the world as a fully functioning adults who are contributing members of society. While I want my child to do well and have a healthy self esteem, I need to balance that with making sure he isn't overpraised and the damage that comes from that.
So as a proud auntie - brag away - all is good.

 

[sunshinehighway]

I would hope so too, but I would be proud of my kids no matter what they accomplish. And parents should put a value on any accomplishment and that includes Honor Roll (unless it is not a real accomplishment at the school) But once again, do you have issue with a bumper sticker for a team bumper sticker that require tryouts? Around here many people have bumper stickers for soccer teams, LAX etc that you only make if you are the best of the best in that sport...are they ok to you? Or is that parent putting a value on that accomplishment as well? Or the team jackets displaying championships etc?

College sweatshirts or team bumper sticks, for me, are different. I think of those as showing support for the team, college, whatever. I wouldn't look at someone with a Yale sticker on their car and think they want everyone to know they went to Yale because they are bragging about how smart they are. They are showing support for the school. I don't exactly know how to explain why that's different than a bumper sticker listing your child's accomplishments, but it is.

 

[luvmy3]

College sweatshirts or team bumper sticks, for me, are different. I think of those as showing support for the team, college, whatever. I wouldn't look at someone with a Yale sticker on their car and think they want everyone to know they went to Yale because they are bragging about how smart they are. They are showing support for the school. I don't exactly know how to explain why that's different than a bumper sticker listing your child's accomplishments, but it is.

There is between difference in "Yale" and "My child got on the Dean's List at Yale"

 

[U2_rocks!]

I don't hate them, but I don't see that point of them really. Almost everyone who sees them does not know you, so what does it accomplish when they read the sticker?

If you really want to make a big deal out of a child's accomplishment, post it on Facebook (if you use it) - at least that gets you support from people you actually know. There are ways to word such a "brag" that don't sound bad. Or send an e-mail to your very closest friends and family members that you know would like to follow your child's accomplishments.

I also agree with people who say that stickers supporting a school or a cause are a bit different - those are inclusive in that people who don't know you can recognize you as a fellow alumnus, or can get awareness of your cause etc. Of course, the more controvertial the cause the more negative feedback you might get.