May 6, 201211:00 PMKeeping it Real
30 Day Mom Challenge Day 23: Replace sarcasm with kindness.
30 Day Mom Challenge Day 23: Replace sarcasm with kindness.
The kids had a pre-test event at school, and we played BINGO with test questions. As I sat there with my son, we teased each other mercilessly. We did it while smiling and laughing, but I’m sure that any of the teachers or parents around may have raised an eyebrow at this exchange between a 10-year-old boy and his 40-something mom.
In our house, sarcasm is part of the landscape. It’s how we communicate with one another; it’s how we encourage each other, how we offer comfort. My kids hear plenty of messages delivered with kindness, but sometimes sarcasm is the easiest way for us to communicate. But it’s not done out of anger or spite, it’s always done in humor. We’re sarcastic and embrace irony—but we don’t belittle one another. We build up one another using our shared language. Which just happens to be a little sarcastic.
And I’m okay with that; they seem to be okay with it also. There is a time and a place for everything, and we talk about that as well. Like how it’s not always appropriate to speak to adults with a certain tone of voice or using certain phrases. They need to know how to communicate in the world, and context can be so difficult to teach. But I know that I would rather teach a lesson using laughter when I can.
So I think I’ll keep my sarcasm, thank you very much, and temper it with kindness.
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Mari Farthing is the mother of two young children, the wife of an air force member and the editor of MetroFamily Magazine.
