One day I woke up and the kids were in charge. It’s the weirdest thing. At one point, it was pretty obvious in America that the parents were the bosses, the grand kahunas, the big cheeses.
The kids were under our responsibility, obeyed our rules or faced consequences. There was no negotiating or collective bargaining with parents. We didn’t owe them any gifts, favors or inheritance.
Now kids run the place. We seek their permission, ask forgiveness for not writing the check fast enough. Let’s just hope we don’t have to speak to their lawyers.
We wonder if we were too hard on them, demanding that they do their homework on time. To make it up to them, we sign over our stocks with hopes that it will make them happy.
In the store tonight, my wife was standing next to a mother and her child sitting in a shopping cart. He was probably less than 5 years old.
The discussion continued to escalate until he uttered these words: “I’ll cry if you don’t give me what I want.”
Sometimes it happens when they get older. On a regular basis, I will ask my 17 year old to perform a household task.
“If I do “X”, can we go to the store?” he’ll ask.
No, I reply. You’ll do it because that’s part of your responsibilities as a member of this house.
And if you don’t like it, have your lawyer call me in the morning.
