
And whilst driving like a greater short-nosed fruit bat out of Mordor to get to damnable zoo camp - which has a drop off "grace period" of five flipping minutes, elst you search the zoo for your grousing child's group of campers - I realized, not for the first time, that there must be a better way. Why must every morning start with Mommy trying to find her calm? And every evening end with something alcohol imbued?

According to one theory, I should let my daughter go to zoo camp sans shoes so she can experience "natural consequences." Problem being her natural consequences impinge on the entire class. Not to mention would get me reported to CPS. Besides which, she could give a naked mole rat's arse if she doesn't have shoes. It would be unique at first, then it would be something she could complain about. For the rest of her life.

F-that, says the Tiger Mom. She should have been up, dressed, eaten and practiced her violin three times by the time we left the house. Zoo camp? For sissies. Quantum Robotics Chess camp. And she should take the city bus to get there.



And you're not. I'm not. We are the parents we are. We love our children and we are doing the best we can. The last thing we need is internalized shame in our parenting. The last thing we need is another article telling us the "best" way to raise our kids. You are the best way. You.
So what am I going to do tomorrow morning? When shoes are not on and whining ensues? I will say this, in paraphrase of Stuart Smalley: I'm good enough, I'm strong enough, and by God I don't give a naked mole rat's arse who doesn't like me. I like me. My kids like me. Even if I growl. And that is enough.