Respect

      This is a sort of "complain"blog this week. I have held off doing this for a while, but decided that I let it bother me too much, so am going to get it out and hopefully feel better for having shared! When I am listening to Spotify  while cleaning, etc., there are a few commercials that have really bothered me. (Well, there are some really, to me, bothersome ones, besides these two, but these two have a lesson to learn, I think!) The ad is about getting some sort of shot for your "tween" kids starting at about 9 years of age. That, however, is not what bothers me. What bothers me is the way the kids talk to their mom or shut out the dad! Is there no respect anymore for our parents? I would never have dared do those two things to my parents if they were talking to me.    

     Ah, well, maybe you have not heard the commercials. One is a kid who asks her Dad to let her out "here because my friends are here." Dad says, "But your school is over there." Now, really, that part is not so off, but as the kid gets out and the Dad says "love you", the door is already slammed and the kid on her way! Is there someting so bad as recognizing your Dad's comment and even telling him that you love him!? After all you would probably be walking if he didn't drive you. What's wrong with saying "Thanks, Dad!" or "Love ya, too, Dad?" 

     The next one, however, is the one that really bugs me. Mom is driving the kid to school and calls him "Muffin!" I am assuming that that has been is loving nickname for 9 years of his life. And I totally get it IF he doesn't want to be called that anymore, BUT there is a proper way to let your Mom know that! You don't just say in a disgruntled voice, "Mom, my name is Jake!" like this kid does. If it ended there then maybe I could not let it bug me so much, but when she starts to say something else, and you really can't be sure that she is going to say his "Muffin" name again, he said, "Mom, DROP IT!" Sorry, but if one of my boys would have  used that tone of voice with me, there would have been problems for sure.

     So, why does it bother me? Because it shows a lack of respect. Okay, so maybe you say the parents are not showing respect to their kids either?! Possibly, BUT in either case it can be solved so simply and so easily with love, kindness, respect, and a little of what is called one on one communication. If Jake doesn't like the name "Muffin" anymore, although I am sure it has some sweet loving connotations with it, then he should ask to sit down and explain to his Mom why he would prefer not to be called that anymore. A respectful mom will understand and the problem would be solved with no negativity. And the Dad and kid could also talk and come to an agreement of where the drop off and pick up points are and upon a  "good-bye statement" before exiting the car. 

     Why, oh, why, do we make things so much harder by not spending one on one time with our kids so they, and we, can say how we feel and what we would like and expect. The world is falling apart because of lack of true, sincere, honest, and loving communication and it truly needs to start with parents teaching their children how to do so. I realize that none of us are perfect, but we can at least keep trying to be better and help our kids be better.

     (And, yes, I do realize they are just commercials, but we are to learn from everything around us, right?)