This evening I made my 5 year-old cry.  This little guy:

And I am actually kind of glad I did.  Let me explain.   We were having dinner tonight when I asked him to do something he apparently didn't want to do.  Who knows what request I made but whatever the case, he didn't want to comply.  Whatever.  Normal kid/parent stuff right?  Well, not so much.

A few seconds after, he suddenly blurts out,

"And, I wish we didn't even HAVE parents!" 

So, I looked across the table at him and just very matter-of-factly said,

"Oh don't worry, one day you won't.  I won't always be here, William, so no worries, one day you WON'T have parents on this earth."

He just kinda looked at me strangely as if he were trying to process what the hell I'd just said, as it couldn't possibly be true!

Fast-forward to bedtime.  The kids had just had their showers and were all snuggled in our bed because yes, since they're on a long break from school, I am allowing them to sleep in my bed just this one night.  I'll enjoy their nice little bunk bed alone much more than they'll enjoy my king size, I can assure you of that!  So, they'd made themselves comfy cozy in bed and we started our usual bedtime chat about random things when all of a sudden William turns to me and says,

"Actually mom, I DO want parents."

And there it was.  The tearful expression on his face.  I looked at him and said,

"William, what I said was true.  You WON'T always have your parents around on this earth so it's important to obey and respect them while you DO have them around.  That's why this is one of God's greatest commandments."

Again, with the sobbing. 

We continued to talk and I reminded him that even I, too, would be without parents and that's why when {his} Grammy and Grandpa ask me to do something that I should respect them and make the best choices.  {Nevermind if I didn't always think this way when I was a teen!}

He assured me that he would try better to listen to us and make good choices and not talk back.  I assured him that of course I love him so much and that I know he didn't mean what he said.  We hugged and I smothered him with smooches and ended with my usual singing before leaving the room. 

At the end of all of this I was very glad that things turned out the way they did, even if it meant a few tears were shed because of it.  I think it's so important to show kids real life and introduce them to the sometimes not-so-nice things that are facts of life.

The really sad part about all of this is that it made me realize how sorry I truly am for all those times I told my mom I wish she would go away and when I said things that were hurtful to her during those teenage (and beyond) years!  My, how parenting certainly DOES come full circle!