A hilarious letter from a little girl who "ran away" from home is cracking up parents today -- first because of the author's adorable attempt at spelling, and second because of her reasoning. Says the girl "I am runing away becas you think I farted when I dident. PS You are Mean." Go ahead, laugh. I did.
And then stop and think about the way you laugh at your kids. Especially when they're being super serious.
Kids are hilarious when they're trying to make a point. They can't help it. It's fate, destiny, God's plan, what-evah. There is no way to sit on your couch and watch a 5-year-old stamp her feet and cross her arms over her chest to make a point and not burst out laughing. If you can manage it, I'll award you my entire collection of refrigerator-worthy art, because clearly you are a better mom than I.
What could possibly be that serious at 5? I'll tell you what. Everything. We think they're cute because they ARE. But to them, the fact that the dog ate their last chicken nugget is the WORST THING EVER.
And when we ignore them -- or worse, laugh at them -- they run away because that's the best way they can think of getting our attention. I remember doing it myself, writing a letter for the neighbor kid to deliver to my mother, refusing to return home until she'd agreed not to do something that terrified the pants off of me (I should note I only got as far as the other side of a giant barn-like structure on my parents' property, where I hid with my bag of loot from the kitchen!). In my little pea brain, I thought escaping my house was the best way to show my adult mom that a kid meant business.
We laugh because it's funny, because it's patently ridiculous to put that much energy into bemoaning the fact that the "new" Phineas & Ferb episode is a repeat. But we should be relieved!
I'm glad the worst thing my kid has to cry about is that I forgot to turn on her CD player during the bedtime routine. I'm happy my 6-year-old has yet to face something heavier in what should still be the lightest, happiest time of her life. I want her to still feel like a child and enjoy childhood, but that doesn't mean I should ignore her when she blows the little things (missing Princess Tiana Silly Band anyone?) into something monumental.
Did this letter give you second thoughts about laughing at your kids when they're being ridiculous?
Image via Buzzfeed
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Comments 146
I just hope that I never do anything to make my kids write down "you're mean"
Laugh behind the kids' backs, but not to their faces.
Lol that is so cute. I try not to laugh when my kids are being serious but its really hard not to. they are just so dang cute sometimes i cant help it.
This is really hilarious! I can't help laughing at my kids. I remember my "parents" (if that's what you wanna call them) laughing at me. I remember being super mad that they were laughing when I was being serious, but now I understand. My kids are just so damn cute when they're pissed off. :) Someday, they'll understand.
You know, I laugh at the things my kids do quite often. And when they look at me like I just stepped on their heads, I explain to them what's so funny about it. We usually end up laughing together.
They both seem to understand that it would be funny for mom to believe a lego helmet will save her life, but when my son said it would save his and I chuckled, I was the meanest mom in the world....
that letter was so precious, bless her lil heart
well she is only 5 ;)