Late by Association

Here’s the scenario, you are a parent trying to get your kids out the door.  You are rushing around because the kids aren’t cooperating.  You get them ready and start collecting yourself.  Finally, all the pieces of the puzzle are in place and you’re about to walk out the door.  Then you realize one of your kids isn’t there.  You call them a second time and then a third and as you are about to lose it they finally appear.  This laggy child appears (usually the youngest), but in the two seconds it took you to get your coat on and find the keys this child has undone your best laid plans.  They have appeared and have either completely disrobed, have changed into pajamas or they have taken off their socks and shoes and are wearing either a dress-up or part of a Halloween costume. 

*Joeprah Parenting Tip: In these situations it is really easy to flip out and flipping out is ‘OK’ but I would actually recommend laughter.*

This random act of sabotage by your child has just cost you valuable time.  You will now be late for wherever you are going.  You have officially been initiated into a sad club, a club I would like to call the Late by Association Club (L.A.C.). 

Late by Association:  This phrase represents a group of parents who, after having kids, have found it difficult to arrive on time to many events because they are constantly being sabotaged by their own children.  Acts of sabotage include

, but are not limited to, the removal of shoes, sock, all clothing, pooping their pants, getting dressed incorrectly (mismatched, inside out, seasonally wrong, or backwards), taking out pony tails, spilling a drink on themselves and putting on Halloween costumes.

 

Parents in L.A.C. have sympathy for those other parents who run late on occasion and parents who are never late for anything aren’t allowed access to this exclusive club.  These perfect parents generally scorn those late parents.  The club opposite the L.A.C. is based off a carefully constructed acronym Always Scorning Someone or A.S.S.  These A.S.S.es can be a real annoyance and are probably the reason why L.A.C. members rush around so much in the first place.  There is another distinct club for those A.S.S.es who are more judgmental: Judgmental And Cat-like Karegivers who Always Scorn Someone or J.A.C.K.A.S.S.  If you ask me, I would rather be a L.A.C. then an J.A.C.K.A.S.S. any ol’ day, but that’s just me. 

So which club are you a member of?  Are you a L.A.C. member?  Have your kids ever made you late to an event?  Does it happen a lot?  Are you a J.A.C.K.A.S.S.?