“How come we don’t have cable TV?”
“Why won’t you buy Doritos?”
“How come I can’t have a game system?”
These questions are most commonly followed by, “Everyone
else has them!” and sometimes, “Why do you have to be so weird?”
I’ve given up imparting my reasoning for all of these
parental decisions, because my kids have heard it before and all it elicits is
groans and eye rolls.
My husband had a conversation with my daughter this weekend
that led to the unveiling of a reason even more compelling than my desire for
my kids to grow up physically, emotionally, and mentally healthy. To my mind, these
are perfectly logical reasons for cleaning the cupboards of junk food and not
allowing someone else’s idea of “entertainment” in to my home, but to my
children they are simply more evidence of my questionable mental state.
This weekend, frustrated by the snack and entertainment
options, my daughter cut to the chase and asked, “Why do we always have to be
so different?” My brilliant husband replied, “Do you want to be like everyone
else?”
