Across the Pond Archive Page   

A Message To Joe Public Who I Come In Contact With

When you are out and about and a little tow-headed boy smiles at you and gives you an emphatic “HIYA!” please at least make a wee effort to acknowledge his presence. A smile and a “hiya” back would be even better. Please do not look at the little boy like he doesn’t even exist, or look at his Mum suspiciously like she is about to mug you (or even worse, give them that up-and-down look, scoffing inwardly that neither the Mum or the boy are dressed in designer gear…nevermind that you yourself are puffing away on your fag—-sorry, cigarette—dressed in a pink velour tracksuit sporting lots of gold-toned bling in order to detract from your “muffin top”) . Perhaps, just perhaps, they are being friendly and want to get to know people in the neighbourhood! And maybe, just maybe the Mum is trying to show her little boy that being cheerful counts for something, that there are indeed nice things in the world and going out for a walk and blowing dandelion seeds into the breeze is just a nice thing to do. This is ESPECIALLY directed at you fellow parents. You seem to be the worst offenders in this game of Competitive Parenting. So much for parenthood softening your heart.

And for those who do take the time to speak to that little boy and perhaps even his Mum, THANK YOU. You may have just brightened their day and restored some hope that humanity (at least in a certain Cheshire town) isn’t as calloused as previously thought.