Classic Moments in Parenting

Since he learned to ride his bike, our boy loves to cycle to school. We were doing so on Monday, having gotten a bit of a late start, and I was rather coarsely telling him we needed to get going if we wanted to arrive on time (I hate being late).

Then I noticed he didn't have his backpack. And neither did I.

I stationed him where he was and wheeled around to peddle one block home to grab it. As I rounded the corner to where he was waiting, I shouted, "OK! Start going! Pedal!"

He did, but I wasn't satisfied. Despite the 15mph wind that was buffeting our faces, I wanted him to MOVE.

"You've got to pedal!" I told him. "Come on, pedal!"

By now, he was growing cross. Who wouldn't be?

"Mom, when you talk to me, you don't sound like a mother," he said angrily. "You sound like some kind of villain who doesn't like children!"

I didn't know he knew the word "villain." I guess I wish he didn't.