emotions

In a city there once live a banshee,
Of screaming and pouting she fancied.

All day she decided to pester,
Which caused many tempers to fester.

In her behavior was found no delight,
And she caused her poor sister much fright.

Til one day enough was enough,
Her father did say, quite gruff...

“Unless you can turn the volume down,
Please refrain from coming around.”

“That racket causes much dismay,
I think I will go buy some hay... by the bay... I just may... someday.”

At this the bansee’s feelings were hurt,
The tears they began to squirt.

So hugs they were handed out,
While softly whispering to the banshee,
“Remember, do not pout.”

If people do something that surprises you, it's your fault.

I heard the phrase above a while back, and I just can't seem to get it out of my head. With some very minor changes, the same phrase applies to parenting. If a kid does something that surprises you, it's your own fault. Just to be clear, I'm mainly talking about the unpleasant surprises, like wiping a booger on grandma, streaking in front of company, dating a hoodlum... those types of things.