*This has been written for weeks, but I've been sitting on it. But here we go!
I've been stuck on a blog topic for the past few weeks....and here's why. There's only so much I can write about...feeling that all I do is wash clothes as a parent.
I literally do 3 things in life. 1. Parent. 2. Complain about a lack of sleep even though it's a sufficient amount. 3. Wash clothes. Where was that advice in the parenting handbooks that I read!? (Yes, I read 2 parenting handbooks, front to back. I also read a "baby-led weaning" book. I also have one more downstairs that I got as a gift from my aunt and uncle for when the kids get older. Hint, most of these books have very useful advice...hint again, you will really follow none of it. Don't even get me started on baby-led weaning).
I got clothes duty at the house, I don't usually mind. What I do mind is that with 2 kids who are a combined 60 pounds seem to quadruple the amount of laundry we have. It's so MONOTONOUS.
In between washing clothes, you parent. Parenting is hard. So when I see a person giving me advice on how to talk to a screaming toddler...I listen, I thank this guy/girl for their wisdom in my head....and then I literally forget everything I was just told. Everyone is faking it. In fact...I will right now put that in parenthesis in the title of this blog...(Everyone is Faking It).
You can take that however you want. Parenting, marriage, work? Everyone is faking it...well almost everyone. If you're trying and actually spending time with your kid, you are doing great. If you're spending actual time with your significant other, not cheating on them or being a dick, fantastic job. Work? Work is third most important, it should definitely not be your first two, but if you're trying and not setting a place on fire, I think you're doing pretty good...trust me, I've had a lot of jobs! But overall, just being a good person will get you far in life. This everyone...is faking it...in a good way ;)
So this blog really won't have a specific topic...not that it ever does? How about I get in to some random thoughts?
*upon completion of this blog, it DEFINITELY has a specific topic.
- I hate covid and want it to go away.
- Why does everyone with a "If you don't like this country, get out!" t-shirt always tuck it in? And wear sunglasses that are too small for their face?
- I really wish I could take my kids places without worrying they will get sick from this f'ing pandemic. I wish more parents, and people honestly, felt the same.
- Why does everyone with a "If you don't like this country, get out!" t-shirt always wear it on a super hot day? They are predominantly black shirts. It's not really good for the ol' body temp. Black does hide pit out stains I guess, but it doesn't hide your beliefs. Also these shirts have so much writing on them! It's like a No Fear shirt without the irony.
- I really wish politicians wouldn't suck. Both sides suck, sure, but one side likes to believe January 6th was a pleasant day for tourism. Hates masks. Really hates science and women's rights. Doesn't understand HPAA.
- Global warming is real and there's seemingly nothing we can do about it because of idiots, greedy idiots, assholes, or greedy idiot assholes. In 20 years the climate is supposed to be drastically different, I'll be 59, I'm 3/4th's done at that point, but my kids will just be getting started. How beyond f'd up is that? Where was that in the parenting book...here's my entry:
"You will get anxiety about your kids future about things that are out of your control. War? Global warming? Terrorism? The Kardashian's coming back? Another pandemic if this one doesn't fucking go away? Boys? Girls? College? If you are thinking of having kids, think about what life will be like in 20 years, that's my fucking parenting advice."
- Why does anyone wear a "If you don't like this country, get out!" shirt in public? Just makes me think you're a trash person looking for an argument. Also your hall pass is probably Lauren Boebert...which, yeah sure I guess? At least it's not MTG...(note to self, how to write a non-offensive hall pass article? I mean Emilia Clarke is probably my answer now that the AT&T girl got a weird haircut, or Margot Robbie).
Story time. Last winter our kids had swimming lessons. And there was a mask mandate to get in for all parents. It was in the emails/texts/on the door. Everyone followed it. Except one guy. My nickname for him was January 6th, I kept wanting to ask him how the trip was to DC. And he was always smirking! So let's get deep here (that's what she said). My biggest disappointment in becoming an adult, is realizing that some people never fully become one.
Also nobody ever confronted him about it. A) because they were on his side, but actually following the rules because we were in a business where, you know, people should follow the rules. Or B) nobody wanted to get in to a confrontation/argument at their kids swimming lessons (this would be me).
Growing up I stupidly thought people got smarter as they got older. Whether it was learning from mistakes they'd made. Realizing what their parents taught them were wrong. Maybe just getting education or being put in a different circumstance could help them learn as people, being accepting of others. It's how you get more well rounded as an individual, making friends with people that don't have the same...anything...as yourself. No, all of these people grew up to not wear masks and make fun of people for getting a vaccine to help them live. Social media definitely doesn't help. Technology really f'd us on misinformation but really helped (un-f'd us?) on figuring out who the people were that we didn't need in our life.
I'm still learning to be a better person, human being, husband, dad, Madden player (too many buttons, why did they make it so hard!). Nobody is perfect. But in between washing clothes, I need to teach my kids the importance of being kind. Learning new cultures and lifestyles. Not being a complete fucking asshole. You know, the small things. Most importantly, I need to teach them to not wear a stupid shirt out (or poorly made red hats....or Nazi hats, definitely not something I thought I'd type in 2021...NAZI HATS) in public, meant to start confrontation, menace people, and bully.
I'm literally tired of logging on to whatever daily social media and being disappointed by yet another story/opinion/event that shouldn't be happening. I really should rename this blog 98% of people suck, but if you know me, you know I think that already. I'm incredibly frustrated at the future my kids might have, looking at how bleak it is with the lawmakers who are in charge now, the politicians who don't have your/our/their best interests in mind. Global warming is a thing. This pandemic is a thing. Jersey Shore is still on TV. What in the living fuck is going on?
I married a physician, so I've been getting texts or calls since 2012, asking a medical opinion and invading her free time with questions. But the minute medicine became insanely political and she gives advice that you don't agree with, like wearing a mask and getting a vaccine, you go looking for what you want to hear and sadly it's coming from someone with tiny sunglasses, wearing a shirt that tells you "If you don't like this country, get out!". Unfortunately that person doesn't know what they are talking about...this would be known as faking it...in a bad way :(
Do better.
Jeff Kleeman
