I had a run in with my father this morning which I'm still reeling from, hence the following rant. He's known to the Little Darlings as Grumpy, strangely enough. The fact that he thinks that I don't discipline Boychild severely enough was nothing new, but today he proclaimed that I am raising a criminal. I should spend more meaningful time with him (ie, not be a working mother which is evil) and take him to more pro-social activities. I should also beat him for his transgressions. Apparently the golf lessons, tennis club and football practice don't count. I accept that I let him give up horse riding even though he was pretty good at it when Spouse called him a gayer for taking part in a girly activity once too often. In any event my badmother credentials are now official since my perfect brother and his second wife (who incidentally thinks that Jordon is a positive role model) agree that Boychild is "out of control".
Having had an hour or so to seethe and reflect while cruelly not spending time with my son as I washed, stretched back into shape, and put away newly laundered clothes, it seems to me germane that these allegations come following a week of parent bashing by the Government and other, probably childless, pundits.
Boychild has sensed some negative grandparental rumblings for a while, and he has fulfilled their proficy in ways that would impress the most eminent sociologists. He belches "Arch-Bishop" at will since it annoys Grandma, and refuses to sit still during Sunday lunch because it pisses Grumpy off. In short, he's very good at not doing as he's told, needs to learn to be seen and not heard, and would probably benefit from doing as I say and not as I do. A strikingly similar message was sent out by Mr Cameron in the Commons this week.
I feel sure that I have little, if anything to add to the debate about the causes of the breakdown of our communities. I've certainly read a number of extremely well crafted pieces in the media. What I'm struggling to express is that my sulky raction to the criticisms of my parenting abilities was to say fuck you, if it's not good enough for you, leave us alone innit, and I suspect that a similar response, in kind, will come from the inner cities.
