So….What’s Your Policy?
I’ve been thinking about the meaning of the word ‘policy’ lately, after coming across something in my 10 yr. old daughter’s backpack. Of course I know the general meaning of the word, but I decided to look it up anyway to read the actual definition. This is what I found: policy:
(1) a definite course of action adopted for the sake of expediency, facility, etc.
(2) action or procedure conforming to or considered with reference to prudence orexpediency
(3) a plan of action adopted or pursued by an individual, government, party, business, etc.
Ok, pretty much what I already knew. I still wasn’t sure though if my daughter had used the context of the word correctly, so I looked up the synonyms and found principle and rule. So I finally concluded that yes, she did use the word correctly…what I found was a list, her own personal list of her life’s policies or rules. Of course to a Mother, this finding was a treasure. It’s always exciting to find things in our childrens’ backpacks…writings, drawings, letters, notes…etc. Hey!…if they really want to keep them private then they should hide them better! They know perfectly well that I go through their schoolwork every night, so if something happens to be in a school folder…fair game says this Mama!;) Anyway, I’m sure they’ll be on to me in the next few years and you know what that means…yup, Game Over:( But I do have to admit that it is quite a joy to read the writings of our little ones when they are still young, naive, innocent and sweet…to know what is important to them…to get a glimpse of their young soul from the perception of a little person or individual, not as your child. I am a very lucky Mother…for I have never once been disappointed by anything I have found or read…only overjoyed and proud of the people they are becoming. Now, please remember, my children are only 10 and 8. I’ll try not to gloat too much…I may not be quite as impressed with what I find 7 years from now…but who knows, our children may just surprise and over joy us even then…we can dream can’t we.
So…back to what I found in my daughter’s backpack…a list, her policies, accurately titled “My Policies”
And here they are…my adorable 10-yr old’s life policies…and I have to admit, I was a little scared as she can be quite the little vigilante (she must take after her Mama;). This is word for word what she wrote:
1.) Break one, pay for two. Plus tax $ .50 per item
2.) If you are mean you don’t come to my house and you are not invited to my birthday party EVER
3.) You can not say it, I have a lawyer
4.) Never steal my things. If you do steal and I catch you, I tell my teacher and I won’t talk to you
5.) I only use Puffs Kleenex
6.) If you hurt an animal I won’t talk to you
7.) If you break this policy you will be punished
8.) If you do anything I don’t like you will be punished
9.) If you do something I like you will be rewarded
10.) Never wear white after November and before March
11.) Never wear black make-up unless it’s mascara
12.) Never wear flip flops after winter begins
13.) If you hurt my family you will be punished
14.) Suzie is my friend
I’m completely serious, that was the actual list…and then she had gotten 3 friends to give their compliance to her policies with their signatures at the bottom of the page. My sweet little dictator:) Well as harsh as some of her policies may seem, I actually agree with most of them, but as adults, we get so caught up in political correctness that we don’t seem to have the ability anymore to articulate our policies quite as accurately as a 10-yr. old. This list was honest, from the heart, unbiased, liberating, and quite respectable in my book. We all tend to make lists….we set goals, short-term and long-term, we make to-do lists, we make grocery lists, we make all kinds of lists every day…but do we ever really sit down and honestly and unbiasedly sit down and write our rules, our policies, without regard to what others may say or think….our own personal rules of life? Most of us probably don’t. I don’t think I ever have. But…you have to admit, it would be pretty interesting to do.
I think I’m going to give it a go….without any deliberating, seriously…I promise you I haven’t thought this out….I’m just going to go with whatever pops into my head right now. Wish me luck!:) Since she wrote 14, I’ll do the same.
“Green-Eyed Girl’s Policies”
1.) If someone needs to get over into your lane, just be nice and let them over. Don’t try to punish them because they didn’t plan far enough in advance, or even if they were trying to cheat the ‘line system’….just let ‘em over, it’s not really going to hurt anyone, and maybe they’ll return the favor in the future.
2.) Don’t wear daisy dukes out of the house past the age of 30, unless you are just working around your house or in your yard, or as a bathing suit cover-up at the lake (NOT a swimming pool)…no matter if you look better than most 20-yr olds in them, still…just don’t do it.
3.) If your child has a visible whitehead on their face, you must not let them go to school like that! Ya ya….”NEVER squeeze at your face”…..whatever! I agree that you shouldn’t squeeze at deep zits below the surface that aren’t ready to come out….BUT if your child has a visible ‘ready-to-pop’ whitehead on their face, it is your responsibility as their parent to gently squeeze it so it’s not white anymore. IT IS YOUR JOB!!!
4.) Paint the walls in your home ANYTHING except white, off-white, or tan/khaki! Ughhhhhh!
5.) If you’re over the age of 15, don’t wear ankle bracelets. They haven’t been in style since the 80′s, and there’s some weird phenomenon going around with women over 40 wearing ankle bracelets and wearing their toenails too long where they look more like fingernails….I really don’t get it.
6.) Please please….before you leave the house…get a handheld mirror and check out your ass….just do it…you may be very, very surprised at what you see!
7.) If your baby asks you to sing to him, no matter how old he is, and even if you’re tired….just sing. You never know if that will be the very last time he ever asks you to sing him to sleep.
8.) Thank God for your children every single day, and pray that He will protect them and keep them safe.
9.) If anyone, and I mean anyone, hurts a child, they should be punished and punished to the extreme, even if I have to do it myself!
10.) If you only have 10 minutes notice before your husband gets home from work, throw all the dishes in the dishwasher or under the sink, and hide all the laundry in various closets throughout the house (I promise he won’t look there). Anything else that’s laying out, HIDE IT, BURY IT, COVER IT UP! I promise you’ll have a much happier husband, and a MUCH better night!
11.) If your mother-n-law or stepmother is coming over….refer to #10. If it’s your own Mother…who the hell cares, she knows you better than anyone else anyway.
12.) If your children go to a private Christian school, and they are having a dinner…slam a couple of shots before you leave the house….and sneak a couple more in your purse to take with you
13.) If your mother, mother-n-law, or stepmother have ‘parenting advice’ for you, just smile politely, nod your head in agreement….and then do whatever the hell you want to when they leave
14.) If your child makes you a ceramic mug, plate, cup, etc…..even if it looks like it could fall apart at any moment….use it in front of them often
Ok…that’s it! Completely off the top of my head…spontaneously written with no forethought.
Soooooo……I want to know, the people want to know, the Enquirer wants to know….What’s Your Policy???
Love and Hugs,
Green Eyes