more ketchup please
my jaw literally dropped. then, i uttered the all so common: oh. my. goodness. word for word. then i self righteously declared: “i will NEVER do THAT!”
the boys and i were walking home. on a narrow street, we had to pause to let an suv pass. in the driver’s seat was what looked like the dad, and sitting on his lap was a little girl who looked like 2 or 3 years old. he was driving, but the girl’s hands were on the steering wheel. by the looks of it, she was definitely having a blast. the guy who was driving looked equally pleased.
he should be ashamed of himself!
what was he thinking?
how stupid!
what a terrible example!
i was endlessly bashing the guy for doing such an unthinkable thing when i realized something.
i did take the kids to the park so they can play, but we did not go home right after their countless stints at the slide. we passed by carl’s jr and they feasted on french fries while i gobbled a whole in your face burger. why? because i, the self proclaimed perfect mother, the best example, the one who will never do the unthinkable, found it easier to shove greasy, fatty food to my toddler’s and preschooler’s mouths, just so i gan give in to my laziness in preparing a healthy dinner.
for all i know, there was a very good reason he did what he did. and for all i know, he probably never feeds his kids unhealthy foods.
there is so much hypocrisy in my system, it literally makes me sick.
it is difficult to admit it, but there are a lot of times when i am truly beyond disgusting.
this is one of those times.
some things NEVER change.
when will i ever learn to mind only my own business?


Hi May,
Lovely informational plus entertaining blog you have here. Thanks for exchanging links with my blog.
Myk
http://nursereview.org /
http://philippinenurses.blogspot.com
Comment by Myk — August 6, 2007 @ 2:01 am
As usual May, you bring up a good point. The “art” of being human almost always ends in a vicious circle. I don’t know anyone that is exempt from it. My own biggest pet peeve is people who are prejudice. Yet at the same time, by pointing out the prejudice in others, I am only highlighting the prejudice in myself - the very thing that I detest the most.
I said that being human is an “art.” To me the things that make art (and life) beautiful are its imperfections. In my eyes the “Mona Lisa’s smile” is not pretty at all. But, it is striking, and without a doubt the painting itself is a masterpiece. Would it be as good if her smile were “picture perfect?”
Comment by PD Warrior — August 6, 2007 @ 4:26 am
May, you are too hard on yourself. I don’t think it is hypocrisy so much as it is you having an instinctive reaction, and then later going back to examine that reaction. And any nurse would have the same initial reaction as you if they saw a toddler in a car like that. It’s downright scary.
As for the fast food…I have this theory. If you never feed your kids fast food they will grow up fascinated by it and it will become the forbidden fruit. I say, give ‘em a cheeseburger and fries every once in awhile so they think it’s no big deal.
Comment by Beth — August 6, 2007 @ 5:42 am
I’m sorry, but those two things do not even compare! What a foolish, foolish man.
Comment by Lisa — August 6, 2007 @ 7:27 pm
You are being too hard on yourself. There is no comparison between the 2.
Comment by Julia — August 6, 2007 @ 8:45 pm
may, i agree with lisa and julia… you can’t compare the two.
Comment by unsinkablemb — August 7, 2007 @ 2:35 am
Hi!
This is unrelated to your post, but I’m letting you know that Into The Unit is back up and posting.
–Jen
Comment by Jen — August 7, 2007 @ 10:43 am
Don’t be so hard on yourself! That was the first thing I thought while reading this. We are all human, and with parenting we do the best we can.
When my kids where little I would have one on my lap and let them “drive” up our long driveway… until cars got airbags, and then I didn’t think that was a good idea any more. I think this man would not intentionally do anything to hurt his kid, he probably thought it was safe on that street. But certainly not a good idea.
Comment by Annemiek — August 8, 2007 @ 5:02 am
It may not have been a good idea for the man in the SUV to let his daughter sit in his lap and “help” him drive. It certainly was not a good idea if it was over a long distance, or on a busy street — but this was a narrow street, you said. Was it not well traveled? You had to move out of the way just to let him pass… so I’m guessing it may have been.
The danger in what he was doing (if it was a short distance, on a low traffic street) may have been real… but vanishingly small in comparison to the enjoyment that his child received. Is that so terrible really? (What has happened to our sense of proportion?)
Nor do I criticize you for stopping for fast food now and then. You don’t do it often; your children are not living on french fries and chicken McParticles. It’s a treat for them… and an occasional breather for you. Is that so terrible really?
I don’t think so.
Comment by The Curmudgeon — August 9, 2007 @ 9:25 am