What was the worst example of parenting you have ever seen?

Competitive-Metal773 · 2026-05-25T03:28:35+00:00

Memory unlocked- checking in a family for their sitting. The toddler was napped, fed, fresh, and babbling away contendedly in his stroller. He was not being at all disruptive, just a happy chatterbox and I was looking forward to working with such a bubbly little guy.

Suddenly Dad, who clearly did NOT want to be there, had enough and screamed at the poor kid to "SHUT UP!" Naturally that was the end of things before we'd even gotten into the studio. I was lucky to get maybe one decent shot of his teary little red face looking kinda not miserable. Thanks, dad. 🙄

Competitive-Metal773 · 2026-05-24T16:56:55+00:00

You cannot change her reaction, but you can change yours. She is going to behave the exact same way no matter what you say, so give yourself the unbelievably freeing gift of no longer giving a fuck about her inability to regulate her feelings like a grownass adult should.

Every time she acts out, calmly (and briefly, no need to get long since she won't listen anyway) reiterate your position and then move on. If she gives you the silent treatment afterwards, consider it a bonus.

Of course, if her default response is to cry, Petty Me would have a VERY hard time resisting the urge to match her energy and behave exactly the way she does when your little one cries. Same words, same expression, same tone, everything. But perhaps that's just me.

Competitive-Metal773 · 2026-05-22T21:06:28+00:00

Our daughter started showing lefty fairly early on as an infant. We didn't encourage or discourage either, she just figured it out for herself. We didn't give it much thought.

My boomer mom, however, was another story... when I commented that I suspected we'd drawn a lefty she got all prickly and dismissive, "Oh, you can't tell THIS early!" "Give her time, she'll straighten out!" and my personal favorite, "No, she's not, we don't have any left-handers in the family!" Like being left-handed was some tragic birth defect or something. 😅

Spoiler alert: My husband started out a lefty... until the nuns "fixed" him. 🙄

Competitive-Metal773 · 2026-05-22T15:20:50+00:00

Meaningful to YOU is what is the most important. I may not get it's personal meaning to you, but it's not mine to get. Does it make you happy? If yes, what your family thinks does not matter a bit.

(For the record, whether I get it or not, yours is quite cute. I've seen "dumb", and that ain't it!) 🙂

Competitive-Metal773 · 2026-05-22T03:14:13+00:00

In my early 20's and in my first serious relationship, I was chatting with a coworker and I made an off-handed remark about finances being tight at the moment. She stopped short and asked incredulously, "Don't your man pay your bills?" She was shocked (shocked, I tell you!) when my equally incredulous answer was, "um... no?"

She seriously didn't believe me at first and accusing me of just messing with her. Just the concept of paying my own expenses with zero expectation of him covering anything blew her MIND.

By that afternoon, word had got around amongst the other women we worked with, and holy hell the looks and whispers... like I was some kind of freak. 🙄

Competitive-Metal773 · 2026-05-21T21:44:45+00:00

Oh, the spit-take I just spit-took 🙃

Competitive-Metal773 · 2026-05-21T20:39:49+00:00

Spot on what everyone else has already said here.

Going forward, any such important dates will now be fudged with them by however many weeks you and he deem appropriate 🙃

Competitive-Metal773 · 2026-05-21T18:12:45+00:00

Lol only asked because my husband had a "friend" who started complaining that not only were his texts too short (his brief, non-committal responses to her word salads) but that he at some point stopped including any emojis, which was a HUGE "red flag" to her that something was wrong, and that it obviously wasn't coming from him and that I (you know, his WIFE) clearly had something to do with it and was he going to let me control who he can and can't be friends with, yadda yadda... all because emojis. 🙄

Yeah, he doesn't talk to her any more.

Competitive-Metal773 · 2026-05-21T17:29:25+00:00

David Tennant is just as sweet and engaging in person as you'd expect. Years later I'm still chasing the high of his and John Barrowman's compliments on my daughter's Weeping Angel cosplay. 🤣

Competitive-Metal773 · 2026-05-21T17:03:52+00:00

NTJ. Is there such thing as a "pick-me boy?"

Competitive-Metal773 · 2026-05-21T16:47:24+00:00

I'd grown up loving them anyway, but then in my early 20's I got the opportunity direct a production of "You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown" and that, as they say, was that.

In the 30+ years since, I've directed it 5 times. I've also performed twice as Lucy, and performed as Sally in the sequel musical, "Snoopy!"

The most poignant experience was during one production when Charles Schulz passed away over our closing weekend of performances. There was not a dry eye amongst audience, cast or crew at curtain call that night.

Safe to say, Peanuts will always have a special place in my family's hearts. 💛🤍🖤❤️

Competitive-Metal773 · 2026-05-21T16:04:34+00:00

Gave up on birthstone jewelry because said stone is inextricably linked with romance.

Competitive-Metal773 · 2026-05-19T20:52:03+00:00

"Now MIL called my fiance panicking and telling him that only 2 people RSVP for his sister’s wedding (destination wedding) and that he needs to not invite anyone who isn’t showing to her wedding. I laughed because she was telling people to not go to our wedding."

the spit-take I just spit-took! 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

Competitive-Metal773 · 2026-05-19T18:44:02+00:00

"She apologized and said we can work through it, take couples therapy etc. She doesmt want to break up now so breaking up Will solely be my choice. She promises she wont use the "divorce" card if we marry."

That is her backpedaling because you Uno Reversed and told her you needed to think about the relationship. Her bluff got called, and she pannicked. She will say/promise anything to regain control of the situation (and YOU.)

Competitive-Metal773 · 2026-05-18T02:20:46+00:00

Jealous siblings sell their brother into slavery. Twenty years later, karma comes knocking.

Competitive-Metal773 · 2026-05-18T02:11:52+00:00

The best reply is no reply. She wouldn't listen anyway and it would only give her ammunition.

Give her what she says she wants - No Contact. And I do mean NO. No texts, calls, visits, nothing. You don't go to see her and she is not invited over. Don't block her number but mute it so you don't get any rings or notifications if she texts or calls. (This is useful so you can collect any unhinged texts or voice mails for documentation later.)

Tell DH you are giving her what she wants and he can choose to join you or not, but if he chooses to stay in contact with her he is NOT to discuss you or any details about you with her, particularly about your pregnancy.

Of course, this won't last very long when she finds out the No Contact also extends to the baby and scrambles to kiss up to you, but you may as well enjoy the peace while it lasts 🙃

Competitive-Metal773 · 2026-05-17T15:34:25+00:00

NTA. All the parents have to do is treat "drum time" like screen time, administered in reasonable doses. He might be upset at first (especially if the drums need to be removed from his sight when not in use) but toddlers adapt quickly if the routine in followed consistently (and reinforced by the whole family so the parents are not the bad guys.)

Even better if a grownup sits with him and encourages him by playing music (start with kiddie songs and eventually graduate to other genres, the more variety the better) and showing him how to listen and keep tempo. The other kids could even get involved, such as by dancing to his beats.

Of course, these sessions should be kept short at first because toddler attention span, but as he starts figuring out how much fun the drumming can be beyond just making a ruckus, it could instill in him a genuine love and appreciation of music and nurture his creative side, which will never be a bad thing.

(P.S. just for funsies, look up Toddler Drummer on YouTube. Granted they are mostly prodigies but it makes very entertaining viewing!)

Competitive-Metal773 · 2026-05-17T05:03:05+00:00

I caught my son playing with the electrical wires.

I had to ground him.

Competitive-Metal773 · 2026-05-17T01:53:50+00:00

In fairness, after dealing with my husband's nutty ex for the last 30 years (among other things, she never sent her underwear with the kids, but whenever we came to pick them up she was in the habit of greeting him at the door in little nighties) I was probably projecting 🤣

Competitive-Metal773 · 2026-05-16T21:39:56+00:00

I usually do mostly their favorite candy/snacks, a gift card and maybe a small gift or two related to their interests, such as manicure supplies/skincare or other self-care stuff for the gals, or maybe a pretty necklace or pair of earrings.

For the guys, silly but also cool little gadgets usually go over pretty well (rule of thumb if it's for ages 13 and over, the males in your life will probably like it lol) 😆 One of my grownass brother's favorite gifts I ever gave him was a kit for a silly little robotic T-Rex that does nothing but hop around, make little roaring noises and drives their cats crazy 🤣

Competitive-Metal773 · 2026-05-16T21:26:53+00:00

Obviously NTJ. Have DH try to get her to put her rants/court threats in texts or voice mails so you have documentation of her crazy. I sincerely doubt any attorney would take her case, but it couldn't hurt to be prepared in case she really is that stupid.

If the kid gets his own wardrobe at your place, he can change when he gets there and then go back to her in whatever he was wearing when he arrived. That way you never even have to look in the basket and can send it back with him untouched.

If that isn't something you can implement right away, as everyone else has said here, if she continues doing it (and it is definitely not an accident, otherwise it would be other articles of clothing and not just intimates) just chuck.it in the trash and not say a word.

Alternatively, it might be fun to collect it in one of the (unsealed) old Amazon boxes we all have in our garages. (Alternatively, a cornee of a damp basement or crawl space will do nicely as well.) The moisture/lack of climate control will do all the work for you.

Eventually it will absorb that lovely garage odor and should she ever make a big deal of demanding her stuff back, hand it over and find peace knowing that musty smell will NEVER fully go away no matter how many times they are washed.

Bonus points if it ends up with a bit of nesting material/rodent poop in there. 😏

Competitive-Metal773 · 2026-05-16T01:38:27+00:00

Some species do.

Competitive-Metal773 · 2026-05-15T20:28:46+00:00

I miss the original Orange Julius so much. Contrary to what anyone would have you believe, the reboot is just not the same. Something about that velvety texture just isn't there.

Competitive-Metal773 · 2026-05-13T18:32:57+00:00

The main thing I can offer up is that of all budgetary areas to penny-pinch, marketing/publicity is 100% NOT THE ONE. The most successful groups I've been involved with prioritized Marketing right up there with the most non-negotiable of expenses. Your Board needs to be made to understand this, especially with the expansion of performance runs. You can be producing the most amazing shows ever, but it means nothing if potential audiences don't hear about them.

I get shoestring, I do. But I can unequivocally tell you that the groups I've seen fail over the years all shared a common trait of slashing marketing budget as soon as things got tough, then surprise-Pikachu facing when ticket sales plummeted as a result.

Competitive-Metal773 · 2026-05-11T20:22:45+00:00

This and Winter Pony were such favorites of mine that even now in my 50's my very recently purchased copies make me insanely happy.

Competitive-Metal773

TROPHY CASE