Tuesday, October 16, 2012

Set a good example


I know I am preaching to the choir here, but I had to tell you guys this story. If nothing else you will feel good about your parenting. As far as I can tell, most of the people reading my blog that have children, have amazing and beautiful children and I feel so good about the generation to come. I have seen photos and read your stories and I know that you are all doing a fantastic job as parents.
Well, today I saw a pitiful example of parenting. I went to Trader Joe's this morning to pick up some groceries. As usual it was packed and hard to get around in. Many of the shoppers in this store are from Chapel Hill, upper middle class and very much concerned with themselves. There was a woman shopping today with her little girl. The mom was on her cell phone and pushing her cart around aimlessly, (as were most of the people that were shopping, grrr.... ) and her little girl had her own tiny shopping cart (these are cute but obnoxious if you are no longer a parent of a small child).  The little girl was on her "cell phone" too and chatting away just like mom. The thing is her pretend cell phone was a pork tenderloin. (did you burst out laughing just now? I did). It was absurd and disturbing. As I continued down the aisles people were talking about them, and not in a nice way. I went to the back of the store where they were giving out pumpkin cake samples, yum! and the employees were talking about it, and how disturbing it was. It sort of made me sad. This poor little girl was just doing what she saw her mom doing and wanted to be like her, she didn't know that it was really a sad thing for a lot of us to see.
Our kids watch us and learn from us. Teach your children well. I watch every day as Wesley becomes this amazing young woman, and that child never walked around in a grocery store with a tiny cart talking to a pork tenderloin!
isn't she pretty :)? I love this child!!

16 comments:

Dennis Allen said...

Now that sounds like a meaty conversation anyway.Yes she is beautiful and I understand why you are so proud of her. Ours have been out of college for 8 and 12 years respectively and haven't moved home yet. We're very proud of them too.

Hannah said...

Heck it is quite sad. Not a mother but I am to be an auntie come January and I can't tell you how excited I am about that. It does make me stop and look around much harder though at how children are being brought up around me.

cookingwithgas said...

I can not quit laughing this is so funny, sad yes, but funny.
Talk to the pork!
Hugs for spending more time with our kids.
PS- I really hate cell phones. I got rid of mine and use Mark's when I need one and that is about once a month.

Vicki said...

Sadly, we are living in an ever increasing world of dis-connect. Fewer people seem aware of what they do...if only the mother could really look and 'see' what her daughter was doing. Well, would that make any difference with some?
I am so proud of my 21 year old boy. A gentle, caring, thoughtful soul with a big heart.
It all starts at a young age - parents need to be aware how important the formative years are.
Wesley is beautiful in every way - you are right to be proud of her and yourselves for bringing her up so well :)

Judi Tavill said...

I don't know... I am am in the think of TEEN AGENESS and it is a little disturbing, in general... As for your daughter... I want her skin!!! Oh... and her personality seems pretty fabulous too...

Michèle Hastings said...

You certainly do have a beautiful daughter!

I think smart phones have created a whole slew of rude people... even people who were raised to know better have been sucked in by the need to be constantly connected.

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Tracey Broome said...

Thanks everyone!! So glad my kid doesn't talk to or eat meat, haha!

Lori Buff said...

At least the little girl still has an imagination.

Tracey Broome said...

Lori, that is true, haha! Way to see the bright side :)

cindy shake said...

shocked the little kid didn't already have her own iPhone 5!

Anonymous said...

good grief! well, at least i'm doing better than that! & she is lovely, but more wonderful is reading about how you feel about her.

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Amy said...

she's beautiful! lovely post.

yolande clark said...

Such a hilarious post. I admit, I kind of love the image of a little girl conversing with a piece of raw pork. Wesley, pretty? How about *stunning*. Goodness. Raw beauty.

Now if I don't get off this computer in 2 seconds, these kids are going to lose it. I do try to be no-tech until 10pm...but sometimes I slip...Bye!!! :)

Nancy said...

Oh, so sad...but true.
I cared for an under 2 year old who used to sit at the lunch table with her hand to her face, cell phone style and pretend to talk while eating. Her mom was literally Always on the phone when she came to pick up her kids. I think you'll appreciate this blog I found recently:
http://www.handsfreemama.com/about-me/

This is the first post I read and it hit sure left an impression.
http://www.handsfreemama.com/2012/01/23/the-children-have-spoken/

Lastly, The way you speak of your daughter, tells me of her dear inner self...the photo speaks of a clam beauty and also a great photographer!!