I went to a Christmas party the other night. Lots of people were enjoying a glass or two of wine. Some got a little rowdy. As a teetotaller, I had the perspective of watching their behaviour. Okay, I confess: it was our club Chrismas party/ year end celebration, and my mum was there too. She was quite exuberant (this is our normal state), and wound up by being with friends and a the consumption of a glass of wine. (Sorry for tattling, Mum - one of my faithful readers- but there is a point). [Also: I don't drink because we are a family of lightweights, but never remember til the next morning.]
So at one point our president was addressing the room and Mum came to tell/ ask me something. Mum didn't notice the president talking as she was focused on finding me and telling me the message before she forgot. Unfortunately, she kinda interrupted Madame President. Sooo, I have sometimes noticed this behaviour differential with myself and my children. Should I be proud, embarrassed, or both, when my children behave better than me?
This is not to say that my kids always behave better than me... just sometimes. When they do, I wonder: If they are better behaved, did they learn it from me? I should therefore know better. Did they adjust more quickly to a societal change? Should I then be embarrassed for being slow? Or do I just accept that they made the wiser behavioural decision, and learn from it?
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