Viva Rock’n’Roll!
Consistency is the key
What makes us effective as parents?
Speaking one voice which arises from developing and sticking to the same, or at least similar, set of values. Consistency. When you manage to work this out with your life partner, then your children receive one message that is easy for them to follow. But do we parents always manage to work in perfect tandem? Well…
The story below happened when our daughter Carol was 10. It was summertime, the time of vacations when everybody is mainly preoccupied with their leisure. Thus, our baby girl went away for a sailing camp and my hubby was preparing for a three-day motorcycle rally in a charming village called Rudno. John felt sort of blue that year as the previous two years he’d taken our daughter with him to the place and they’d had a lovely time camping, eating pizza, dancing and singing at rock concerts or bonfires etc. That year, however, the dates of the motorbike event and the Carol’s sailing camp clashed, so it was impossible for them to go together. Nevertheless, one day before his departure John ran up to me red in his cheeks with a cell in his hands, shouting excitedly,
“Look, look here what Carol has texted me!”
I peep into his phone to read the exchange of messages.
John: So are you going away with me to Rudno as usual?
Carol: When R U going?
John: This Friday.
Carol: I’m staying here another week dad! I can’t! F..K!
The earth moved under my feet. I could feel the blood pressure rise putting me on the verge of a spectacular explosion out of fury. Immediately in my head I started wording a stern lecture about good manners, at the same time imagining me grab by my telephone and hiss through my teeth,
“Hey you, young lady! Could you please explain to me what EXACTLY you meant by texting F..K?” Out of the vivid visualization pulled me out… John.
“Isn’t it AWESOME? This F..K! Ha! MY baby girl is more rock’n’roll than me, isn’t she?”
©2020 Marta Mozolewska. All rights reserved.
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