Why You Are a Terrible Parent

[tablesaw]

When a recorded program finished, my TV went back to live cable, specifically Little Beauties: Ultimate Kiddie Queens Showdown. Yeah, I know. Here's what I saw:

Kid: I came in fourth place; and I beat twenty people; and there was twenty-three people.
Mom: (doing math in her head while her daughter is talking) Well, you beat nineteen, actually.
Kid: (turning on her mother, standoffish and affronted) HUH!
Mom: (leaning away, placating) Well, you know, I added wrong. I'm sorry, I added . . . Okay, if you want twenty, that's fine.

I'm not a father yet, and I try not to judge parents too harshly when it comes to setting limits. I imagine that it can be very hard to hold out against the tantrums of your children. But you know what boundaries kids don't get to act out over? BASIC FUCKING ARITHMETIC!

Comments

[anne-jumps.livejournal.com]

That child's going to be a picnic to deal with in school and later in the workplace.

[piemancer]

Thanks to you, i am watching that on youtube in great horror. They just look so creepy, so wrong! Eeeeew!

[piemancer]

Cripes, those adults are assholes. Especially the ones who think the kids are stupid. Augh! Why did i watch that? It was like a train wreck!