Are you a Jack in the box parent?

When I was a little girl my friend named Kim gave me a box. On the side of the box was a small little crank that played music when you turned it. The tune if I still remember went like this "All around the mulberry bush the monkey chased the weasel.......then pop goes the weasel." Next thing I know a big funny faced clown popped out of the box and scared the himmy jeemys out of me. Who would have thought that a little clown would be in that little box.
Many people are slow to admit if they are a Jack in the Box parent, however they may know some who are. In case you didn't know, a Jack in the Box parent is a parent who pops out when it is convenient for them. Not convenient for the one opening that mysterious box, but convenient for the clown that chooses when to pop out and scare the himmy jeemys out of the child.
Parenting is not easy. Many days you want to call it quits, jet away on a small cruise ship. But how can you. You made a sacrifice. So why is it that one parent feels that he or she can pop in and out and say boo when they feel like it. Being a mom or dad is a full-time job, not a part-time job. With that job comes responsibilities like laundry, car pooling, runny noses, and 18 years of why, please, help me, etc. etc... So why is it that so many parents are like the monkey running around the mulberry bush trying to chase the weasel before the clown shows up? I have no clue. But what I do know is after awhile I got tired of that box and that funny faced clown and I threw it in the trash. I just hope we can get it together before our children decide to get rid of this clown act for good.