Let me start by saying this: I am no expert. I can hardly believe it myself really, but it's true.
I don't want comments later telling me I am completely off my rocker and have no idea what I'm talking about- you can save those, I don't want to hear 'em.

I can pretty much guarantee Boy Child will be in some sort of therapy while he is an adult because I did something, wait no... many things wrong throughout his childhood that have left him completely messed up. As for right now, he is incredibly smart, polite, honest, sincere and so very caring for a boy of his age and honestly, this generation. I'm not messing around with this parenting business, I'm getting shit done.

So with that being said, I of course have shit to say. I took Boy Child out to dinner tonight and while we were conversing (yea, we talk like that) a woman comes in with her young daughter and is seated at the booth behind us.

Now let me tell you I have a horrible issue of eaves dropping in on other people's conversations. There have been times when I couldn't tell you what was being said at my table, but I could tell you what the conversation was about five tables away. It's a problem. Sometimes.

So back to mom and little girl... As I'm listening to this woman talk to the girl I begin to cringe. She is doing that ever famous sing- songy, baby talk voice. I could feel the hair stand up on the back of my neck. She was sitting next to her child on the same side of the booth because, "it was easier to contain her". She asked the server for paper and crayons to keep her busy. (that is understandable at times)
The little girl continued to fidget and the mom continued to talk in the sing- songy voice. Never once did she tell her what needed to be done... she just asked.
Really folks? Since when did it become acceptable to ask your children if it was alright for them to do what was expected of them?

I can tell you right now this mom is going to have her hands full; I've seen it.
I have always said I will not be friends with my child. Once he is grown and has children of his own, then our relationship will change, until then I am his mother/mom.
I speak to/with him like a person. I tell him what is expected of him and he has it pretty much figured out. I am very open and honest with him about many things. I want my child to be able to come to me without hesitation, ever. Yet still, I am not his friend and that has been made clear.
Of course we still have fun, do many fun activities, laugh and joke around but like I've been told, "I run a tight ship".

I am not going to have my child walk all over me. He will not tell me what is or is not the plan. Of course I offer him choices; many, many choices actually, but he knows he is the child, I am the grown up.

I grew up with a Dad who ran a tight ship and a mother who was very wishy-washy and I have to say, my Dad received the respect.

That little girl had it right when she called her mom the babysitter towards the end of dinner, because she really was more of a babysitter. You're supposed to walk all over those people, not your parents.