In most families where there are two parents, there’s one parent who is seen as the wise and all-knowing one. In traditional families where there is a mother and father, the mom usually gets the credit for being the sensible parent and the one who knows everything. Occasionally, you’ll read about a ditsy mom, or see one on a TV show, but usually, Dad is the absent-minded one. This may be unfair, but it’s just a part of the culture that we’ve created, I guess. The great thing is that Dad is usually willing to go along with it, even if Dad has advanced degrees and is super-intelligent. Men just tend to defer to women and when it comes to parenting, that’s especially true. In the joke below, you’ll see that dynamic at work. Enjoy!
I was out walking with my 4-year-old daughter. She picked up something off the ground and started to put it in her mouth. I took the item away from her and I asked her not to do that.
“Why?” my daughter asked.
“Because it’s been on the ground, you don’t know where it’s been, it’s dirty, and probably has germs” I replied.
At this point, my daughter looked at me with total admiration and asked, “Mommy, how do you know all this stuff, you are so smart.”
I was thinking quickly. “All moms know this stuff. It’s on the Mommy Test. You have to know it, or they don’t let you be a Mommy.” We walked along in silence for 2 or 3 minutes, but she was evidently pondering this new information.
“OH…I get it!” she beamed, “So if you don’t pass the test you have to be the daddy.”
“Exactly” I replied back with a big smile on my face.
