Honor roll sticker remorse

So I read a post online recently that stated that putting your kid's Honor Roll bumper sticker on your vehicle is just bragging to other parents how much smarter your kid is than everyone else and how it "may" hurt other parents or kids feelings. Okay, point taken. However, it sorta touched a nerve for this mama, because I've been driving with an Honor Roll sticker on my truck for 4 years now. And, no, I did not put it on there with the intent of hurting other's feelings or bragging about how smart my daughter is. I put it on there because my older daughter worked super hard to earn her grades and I was proud of her accomplishments. Ya see, not all Honor Roll students are geniuses, who don't have to apply themselves and have good grades just fall in their laps. Some kids have to really try and to get a sticker and a letter sent to their parents acknowledging their achievements is something that they are very proud of. Plus, to be honest ... I secretly wanted to cherish the moment because there was no guarantee she'd ever get on the Honor Roll again so I figured I'd better secure that sticker to the vehicle ASAP!

Anyway, all that being said, the post made me doubt the sticker a little bit and I pondered having Hubby remove it from the vehicle, at least for now and I could put it up on her bedroom mirror instead or something? Due to my doubts, it seemed every time I drove around my eye kept catching other vehicle's stickers, whether on the bumper or on the back windows or wherever. I started evaluating other folks' choices in stickers and my doubts about my simple Honor Roll sticker soon began to fade. I don't know if it was all the Calvin and Hobbs characters relieving themselves on various other brands or team logos, or if it was the obscene gesture stickers, or the naked lady silhouette stickers, but nonetheless, I was beginning to think my innocent Honor Roll sticker was just fine broadcasted on the back side of my truck window.

However, what sealed the deal was the day I pulled up into the ATM drive lane waiting to get some cash. There was a big SUV, which resembled my own "mom" truck, already parked at the ATM machine in front of me. As I swirled around and approached the rear of the vehicle, I was greeted with a huge set of pink lip prints on the back window, flanked with a giant Playboy Bunny symbol. The woman driving appeared young enough to be a mom, at least from what I could see from the side and then it hit me. What would society rather me have on my vehicle as a mother of three young daughters, who constantly hauls children around our town to various school activities and to local businesses, or simply just as a 40-something-year-old person in general? An Honor Roll sticker?

Or a cute set of giant pink lip prints and the infamous bunny symbol? What's going to make others feel less worthy, the fact that my kid made it on the Honor Roll or the fact that I either was a former Hugh Hefner girl or very much long to be one? "To each his own" I say! If one mom can slap a big ol' bunny sticker on the back of her truck then by golly, I'm leaving my Jr. High Honor Roll sticker on mine!

So ... I apologize to anyone who is offended as I traipse around town with my 4-year-old school academic sticker still plastered to my truck window, I truly did not mean it to be offensive. However, thank goodness for Freedom of Speech, and that there are so many alternative stickers out there that have now lessened my guilt about the Honor Roll and have again made me proud to display my daughter's hard earned achievement.