We were working most of the day getting things ready for our "Memorial Day Yard Sale." By the late afternoon we were all cranky and tired. We were pricing boxes and my daughter was helping me.

She went to pick up a box and she spilled half of the stuff we had put in the box out. Before I could stop myself I called her stupid. I am not one for doing that. I guess from the stress of the day I was just ready to relax. I wanted everything done and done fast.

Mean while my daughter quit helping me and I do not blame her. She was very hurt. She can ask a mound of not so intelligent questions. However there is no reason on earth for me to be so rude to my daughter.

Later after the work was done and we were calmed down I apologized to her. We all make mistakes and little words like the "S: word usually are not used in our house.

I started thinking as I was taking my shower of all the things we do to be nice to strangers and sometimes we don't even give our kids the same common curtousy. I really felt bad.

My kids are not used to me being rude no matter how tired or sick or hurt I am. So when I do step out of line with them I try to make sure I am humble enough to say "I'm sorry" when I am at fault.

I want my kids to know that part of being an adult is treating others with common curtousy and being able to say I'm sorry when you have made a mistake.

Our kids listen to us best when we are not aware of it. So the things we say should be things we want them to hear and to learn.

It is only right to let them know we are not perfect and Yes we mess up sometimes too. Then when they grow up and do it they will know how to say I'm sorry or I was wrong.

Bad parenting often happens when we get to tired, or to angry to think before we speak or react to something our kids have done.

Most of the time if we sit and walk back through our memory lane I am sure we can find something we did that is a lot like what our child has done also.

Good parenting comes in when we realize our kids are not out to make life hard on us. They are just out there trying to grow up and experience life in their own way.

So make sure the crime fits the punishment. As a young parent I tended to over punish. I had to learn to ground my child for the day not for the month. (giggle)

Beware when you ground a child that means they are going to be around you and under your feet for the duration of the grounding. So do not ground the child for more than he or she can handle or for more than you can handle.

Extra cleaning chores work well with my kids. Time outs work well too. Making them help a neighbor take out trash or rake the yard helps too.

But words like stupid never get you anywhere. They just belittle and hurt your most precious possessions on earth...your kids.