Warning to Overprotective Parents:

You know who you are.  I am not saying it is good or bad.  In all honesty I slide on the spectrum of overprotectiveness.  Depends on the situation. 

Today while running our errands Little Kid was behaving not killing anyone so when he asked for grabbed a lollipop that those genuises at the car part store concealed under the counter I didn't fight him.  Too much.  I looked around.  It was a small store.  He screams loud.  I did a win/lose analysis and decided to win this one.  Buy the dang lollipop.  Little Kid was happy.  He was quiet.  I was happy.  A few stops down the road he is still sticky happy with his lolli and we stop in the paint store.  While waiting for the nice man with holes big enough to drive a car through in his earlobes (seriously those are gross!) to mix our paint the other associate decides he needs to judge me and my quiet well behaved not killing anyone lollipop sucking 3 year old. 

Apparently, his future Mensa member, does not eat candy.  He is 3 years old (well 45 months to be exact, he did not give me hours or days old...I guess you stop that at 36 months.  Who knew?) and has NEVER asked for candy, nor been given any.  Well, isn't he just a dentist's nightmare?  The associate didn't notice my touch of sarcasm (note to self, lay it on thicker or Iamgoingtopunchthisguy) and decided to continue.  Now, I am all for bragging about your kids.  Don 't get me wrong.  Your little Johnny pooped on his potty? Wonderful! Susie drank without a sippy? Awesome! Your mensa member is building a special machine that will eliminate cancer from our world?  Doubtful.

Paint Store man tells me his Einstein is sheltered.  And he says it like it is a GOOD THING.  He watches Noggin only.  And only for 20 minutes a day. Seriously?  How is this good?  When does paint store man's wife get a shower?  cook a meal? talk on the phone endlessly to complete daily tasks?  I reply that we don't monitor tv in our home.  (ok that is a slight lie.  We don't allow porn) I feel that tv only enhances our lives and it makes it so I don't have to talk to Little Kid.  I am seriously joking here. But Paint Store man doesn't get it.  He looks at me with disgust and shakes his head.  Little Kid yells, I like Zombies! (I wish I could say I encouraged this outburst but this is just how he is!) and we start to walk away.  As we go to walk out of the store, Paint Store man yells, 'Good Luck'.  I am assuming he means on the whole painting thing, but I think he really meant with the parenting.

See here is the thing with super sheltering your kids.  1-you think everyone else is doing it wrong and 2-you will have the only perfect kids.  A few facts... however it works for you is right, however it works for someone else is right for them.  There is no wrong if it works, it is right.  There are no perfect kids. 

By sheltering your kid however, let me give you a glimpse into your child's future.  My Little Kid who has not been sheltered is going to eat your kid up and spit him out!  Seriously, he is being raised in a house with 2 brothers, they are 12 and 6 years older than him.  He therefore is surrounded by teens and tweens all boys, all who think it is funny to teach him 'naughty' things.  We are getting to the root of that problem, but some things they just 'learn'.  My kid is going to be the one to teach your kid these things.  When Mensa Boy comes home from Pre-K in his cute smocked longall and boy maryjane shoes and sailor hat and throws a ball (or car or block) at your head and yells "HEAD SHOT YOU DEAD" you can call me and complain.  I will be on the floor laughing.