I read something years ago about how we feel responsible when our children act up. I think it was in a Reader's Digest. The author was sharing a story about when she was in a button store. Her little girl jumped out a drawer of buttons, and she, of course, felt responsible. Her point was that later on she realized that she did not dump the buttons, so not to feel 100% responsible.
For some reason, I bought that concept and didn't fall apart when Jessie was little and did something she shouldn't in public. I do not agree with her anymore, but it got me through.
It really is so difficult to take them out sometimes. She would go from table to table in a restaurant and say hello to everybody. Not so cute for everyone concerned. The good thing is that they usually have their own children and find out that payback sucks!
|