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
Some of these commentors are kind of freaking me out. I think its pretty obvious the lil girl let out a big ole fart, her parents laughed, she felt embarassed and decided to run away. I highly doubt these parents are causing her any kind of damage, geez. I mean really hunterchas - u worry for the lil girl??? I'd worry for her if her parents didn't teach her to laugh at herself. Life is a lot harder if you take yourself too seriously. Took me too long to figure that out, def teaching my kids that right away.
Jennifer - not matter how awesome of a mom you are, at one point your child is going to call you mean
I try to wait until she leaves the room.
I think it depends on the child, my son didn't mind if I burst out laughing but my niece and 4 year old do. So far my 2 year old doesn't mind.
I do try not to laugh when my kids are trying to be serious, sometimes it's hard when they throw their tantrums but I at least try to hide my face or leave the room.
That's OK... Everyone in my house blames ME for all the farts, even though they KNOW I can not be 10 feet on one side of the room when my SO farts on the other side. but they all look at me and say "MOMMA!!! YOU FARTED!" -.- this being when I am, and when I am not pregnant.. LOL AND I don't fart so much right now! (while I AM pregnant!) It's all my SO! (Sympathy farts?) XD
My dad made fun of me all the time as a kid, and when I was really little it offended me deeply, but as I got older it gave me a good sense of humor, so when I was in high school and the bullies were picking on me and calling me names, I was able to laugh with them, so they didn't have anything to make fun of me for.