Parenting Experts

I may be a little quirky, but for the most part I consider myself to be just about like everybody else- 

I enjoy sleeping in,

I don't floss my teeth as often as I should,

I like a nice hot shower,

I love pizza,

and I was an expert parent long before I had any kids. 

Most of us were really, weren't we?  At the grocery store, well rested and child-less, watching other parents struggle with their kids, and repeating in our minds classic tidbits like "when I'm a parent I will never...", or "if I were them, I would...", or my favorite, "my kids will never..."

Big shocker here, but I don't go through the grocery store like that anymore (especially the well rested part!).  The old "kids are the best teacher" saying must be true, because I'm learning pretty quickly that I am not nearly as awesome as I thought I was.  We are only 2 years and one kid into this parenting thing and my "expert", classic mental list has already been obliterated.  We have let our kid stay in pajamas all day, she has been the one screaming in church, I have fed my child cold cereal for lunch and dinner, she has eaten things off of several floors, we have had her out grocery shopping past bedtime, I have put her in front of a movie just so I can get a nap, I haven't always used the kindest tone, we have put her in the bed with us, and I have bribed with candy.

And I'm not ashamed to admit that that is not at all a comprehensive list either.  Our latest?  We have let the headstrong screaming two-year-old ride, just up the street, in the big seat rather than in her carseat...

Lesson learned: toddlers are just a little unsteady on their feet in a moving car.
Awe, now if that isn't the mark of some expert parenting, I don't know what is.  Quite the shiner.

...sigh...