Why are we always so hopeful? We think, "I won't make that mistake". Until we do.
We think, "I'll be the cool parent!"
And then we find out we're not. Contrary to all of our completely unrealistic expectations.
I thought I wouldn't have to deal with this until my kids were teenagers. I was wrong.
I love to listen to loud music in the car. That's cool, right?
Apparently not. My nine year old son now insists that I turn the music down a whole block before we arrive at his school.
It's bad enough that they mostly don't think my music is cool (what is THAT all about?), but now the actual volume level is a problem?!
And then today I was with my seven year old daughter at her school. We walked over to stand under the school overhang, as it was raining. A little boy in her class was sitting there.
I said, "Hey, Josh! How are you? Wow, cool watch!" (He was playing with his Lego watch.)
He muttered something unintelligible.
My daughter leaned over to me and whispered, "Not cool, Mom. Not cool."
I hissed back, "What?! Socializing isn't cool? Being friendly isn't cool?"
I'm doomed.
