Just saw an attractive Mom standing outside of her car in the wind smoking a cig while her kid hopped up and down outside in the cold. When the woman finished drawing on the smoke like she had been siphoning fuel from a car to get the last 30 miles to safety she promptly threw the butt on the icy ground and stomped it out before putting her kid into the car without a car seat.
How many things are wrong with this picture? I think sometimes I do not have kids because I do not want to have some asshole like me judging me from the window of his car. Other times I am just not sure I could be the example I want to be for my child. Today I was just disgusted by the actions of a woman who may or may not actually work hard for her family, yet cannot get it together to set an example of how to be a healthy environmentally conscious person.
Sure, she spared the leather in her nice Passat from her nasty smoke, but not the earth, the air, nor her cold child. I could see in the child an awe at her mother's face and actions and I could see years into the future as she steals a cig here and there, ultimately rolls double back with no protection, and winds up a smoking single mom. I am certain that every action adults do as parents molds and shapes their children. Sure, there are no guarantees that a mature and compulsion-less parentage will turn out an upstanding child, yet there is no reason to prime the pump of insurrection with nasty little habits and preposterous presumption that one's kid "will be fine; they don't need no fuckin' car seat when they're FOUR YEARS OLD! Fucking government bullshit is what that is"
For every David Sedaris who proved to be of value as a writer there are likely hundreds of wretched people walking the earth because their parents were pathetic. I know so many new parents in my circles and I see them working diligently to be excellent at the job. Keep in mind you are watched and always with hopes that you will slip up so your child can begin masterminding the list of transgressions you willingly accept upon yourself in return for nasty vices and silly momentary satisfaction. You are being watched and your actions will be used against you.
Happy New Year and Please Don't Smoke Around Your Kids!