Gina Heslop
Olivia, my energetic 8-year-old daughter, has started a battle over getting dressed for school. This morning, as I stood in the kitchen with my coffee, I wondered if it was too early for this.
I walked into Olivia’s room, saw her odd collection of pajamas, and thought, “Why not?” So, the next morning, I proposed a radical idea: “Hey, Liv, what if we wear those cool PJs to school?”
Her eyes sparkled with excitement, and we made a morning pact. But things didn’t go as planned. Olivia, wearing unicorn-themed pajamas, seemed uneasy in the car, replacing our usual chatter with an awkward silence.
When we reached the school, reality hit her. “Dad, can we go back? I want to change!” she pleaded, feeling anxious.
I stood firm, wanting to teach her about sticking to decisions. “Sorry, kiddo, we’re sticking with the PJs today,” I insisted. Later, my wife Emily discovered our unconventional choice. Her reaction was less than enthusiastic. She criticized my decision, saying we looked like parents who had given up.
In our living room later, Emily expressed her disappointment. She believed I had embarrassed Olivia. As we talked, I began to question the wisdom of my morning idea.
Now, here’s the big question: What do you think, fellow parents? Have you ever taken a risk in the morning for a win? Was I a genius or a total dad fail? Parenting is full of surprises, and sometimes, it’s helpful to share our experiences with each other.
