Mean mom

… I am a mean mom. The meanest.

I frequently catch myself being unnecessarily harder with my son than the situation warrants. Why do I do this? Because I love him and I want him to be tough. Tough enough for this world so he isn’t taken advantage of or hurt by the cruel people he is sure to encounter all throughout his life. People I’ve encountered in my life. Hurts I’ve experienced. I want to spare him from them all.

The thing is, my life and experiences are unique to me. My son is uniquely different from me and so will be his life experiences.

All I am subconsciously telling him is that kindness is weakness and that ruthless people are everywhere. As he grows up I am afraid my well meaning, but hardness, will train him to only see the negativity of humanity.