So, there is a new joke around here and for the living situation at the moment. It’s funny, frustrating, and incredibly sad at the same time. Every day there is a new episode of “Bad Parenting” in our house.

A son and his five kids (9, 6, 4, 2 & 1) are living with us and every day proves to be a new disaster, a new example of what you shouldn’t do as a parent. Each day sees the other two adults in the house shaking and scratching their heads on decisions and choices being made (or, really, not being made). We have seen and heard a lot of things in the last couple months.

So, the day gets wrapped up with the joke “On today’s episode…”

Maybe I could pitch this whole thing as a sit-com and make lots of money selling the rights…

Anyway, here is an example of what takes place during the different episodes of “Bad Parenting”:

• Never set an alarm to wake up before your children so other people have to parent them and get them ready in the morning, including getting the two oldest off to school.
• Give your three oldest children ice cream, disappear to the bathroom for 20 minutes, and then immediately tell them its time for bed – followed by yelling at them to be quiet and stay in bed.
• Give all the children water bottles at bed time and then screaming at them to stay in bed and to stop getting up to go to the bathroom.
• Yell at the 1-year old to go to sleep in the middle of the night but not check/change her diaper.
• Leave all the children in the car so the 9-year old has to babysit while getting groceries.
• Tell your 9-year old to watch all his siblings in their bedroom while you run to the store for breakfast (we were home, btw).
• At meal time, nearly always give larger portions than appropriate for the age.
• From the one above, when given appropriate size (rarely) not requiring the child to eat their food, then 20 minutes after the meal they say they are hungry and give them a snack.
• Throw away all uneaten food served and never eat leftovers.
• Keep a dog in the backyard and then never play with it, feed it (without reminders), water it (without reminders), or clean it’s pen.
• Rarely engage with your children while you spend 80% of the day on your phone.
• Have little to no income on a regular basis, but buy toys for them after making money and only two weeks after Christmas.
• Rarely make real food, feed just prepackaged everything.
• Give the messiest Lunchable possible (pizza) to the kids (all of them but the littlest) and then yell at them when you have to clean up their mess.
• Disappear to the bathroom or vehicle in the driveway, leaving children unsupervised, for 15-35 minutes at a time…about every 35-40 minutes…
• Claim smoking weed is the only way to cope with ADHD and do it at least 7 times a day.
• Scream and yell at increasing volume, while repeating self 4-8 times, instead of actually disciplining the children.
• Put one child down for a nap and disappear to leave other children unsupervised for 45 minutes.
• Tell your youngest children to “clean up” after themselves without modeling it.
• Tell your youngest children to brush their teeth without help.
• Tell your children to go get in the vehicle without first making sure they have socks, shoes, and a coat on.

See? Wouldn’t this make for a great sit-com?

Reasonable, rational, and responsible adults can clearly see none of the above is a great way to live. Yet, no advice is ever asked for, ignored when given/suggested, and at nearly every turn the aid that is given help is taken advantage of and unappreciated.

Sad right?

Literally just making it up as he goes and hasn’t a clue what the hell he is doing. Does he love his children? I don’t doubt that he does. Unfortunately, there has been discussion about the fact that it would be easier to parent the grandchildren if the parent wasn’t in the picture. Fitness to be a parent is seriously questioned.

Between a rock-and-a-hard-place? Yep.