Published 2025-12-21
tag(s): #random-thoughts #failures
Yesterday, I walk into the kiddo's room for a cleanness and tidiness check.
Now that I think about it, not unlike an Army officer visiting the barracks in old movies and
cartoons.
So anyway, I walk in, and the pants he wore for his band presentation were all crumpled in a
chair. So I asked him to hang them, and he put them on the hanger like...sideways? Sideways of
how one usually hangs pants, which is...sideways. 🤔
Then I realized why would a 12 year old know how to hang pants...
. So I explained it,
while showing him, and then asked him to do it on his own.
As I was heading downstairs, I started philosophizing in my
head[1] Well, this is parenting too. Not only the "big" life
stuff, but also the little things.
I made a trip down memory lane to all the little things you have to teach your kid since they
are toddlers. From how to use a can opener to how keys work, tying shoes and how to crack
an egg.
And from those memories, to this moment just now, when I taught my son how to hang pants.
I wonder if he will remember this morning, with the pants and the hanger, when he is old
and I am long gone...
A bit later, I was in the kitchen and I started telling my wife about all these thoughts, "the
little moments of parenting". Yes, you teach them values and to think for themselves etc etc
but also the little things, remember when he was little and this and that...
"...because just now, I explained him how to hang pants..."
"Oh really?", she said, "Because I explained that to him quite a few times
already"
(Emphasis from the original)
We looked at each other, a moment of silence. She was amused, of course.
But there was a hint of something else in her eyes.
...Weariness, maybe?
"I guess that is parenting too", I said, sheepishly.
We changed the subject.