May 25, 2012
Ok, so we all like to pretend we are perfect (or close to), but I'd love to hear some honest stories of when you were a bit less than perfect as a mother.
Obviously it doesn't make you a bad mother…. just one who takes a little time for herself, or is a bit forgetful at times… you know what I mean.
I'm thinking things like:
My daughter has had two biscuits in a row before!! OMG I know!
Today, her nappy leaked through and her pants got wet (gasp)
She watches TV… yep…TV… oh dear.
Now of course, these things aren't all regular occurrences … except TV lol…. she watches her wiggles DVD and dances to it once a day.
So does anyone else care to admit their "not so perfect" (but perfectly normal in my opinion) parenting styles?
(Please don't bother answering if you're just going to play "perfect parent", this question obviously isn't directed at you, so don't waste your time.)
haha…Larry the lawnmower…. love it!
Really good question – I am glad you asked this.
I started my son on solids when he was a week off 4 mos old (oops)
I listened to my mum, rather than the health visitors. (Not something i will do again)
When my son crys, i pick him up! Oops..
When my son crys to have my phone or something he isn't allowed (not things that could hurt him) i will give in and give him it!
When we're walking around the shops, if he gets fussy, i also give him a little chocolate or crisps to keep him quite.
I let him sleep in bed with me, hes now out of that routine, but the stick i got for it was unreal.
My son's daddy is always moaning at me, saying i am going to turn him spoilt.
I also go against something his daddy says, if i don't agree.
Ahh we're not perfect, just as you've said.
But we learn..
A really scruffy family got on the bus yesterday whilst me and my son was on, they had 2 boys who looked around 4 and 6 y/o. They went and sat somewhere they wasn't allowed and the "father" shouted down the bus as loud as he possibly could
"Get down here NOW, because when we get off this bus, i am going to f!!uckin batter you both"
Now, that is cause for major concern. Our little quirks are nothing.
We shrive to make sure our children are happy, weather that means going against the "rules" a bit? Who cares? It won't harm them.
I don't normally allow McDonalds but the other day I was sooooo tired that I got her some nuggets and she loved them. Real healthy! She also ate some of her dads meal! Also she loves TV too, has had leaky nappies and sometimes i let her sleep in our bed! What is the world coming to?!
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i formula feed now due to personal problems trying to breastfeed, i tried my best but theres only so much you can do we're human and not everything always works out perfectly
urrrm started solids at 5 1/2 months oh no 13days early even though she was showing signs and took to it great
i have the tv on alot – she doesnt exactly watch it but its on alot – i dont like a quiet eerie apartment
been frustrated when shes been v fussy and i had major sleep deprivation and had to take time out for 5 to calm down and cry for abit
once left her asleep in the locked car at the petrol station to quickly run in and pay for petrol
some days i jsut stay in the house all day in my dressing gown
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My son looked tired, so i put him in his bed.
he cried for about 20mins. i thought he was just falling asleep and burning off excess energy just before falling asleep like he usually does.. but 20mins felt a bit long for that sort of thing.. so i went in and picked him up.
he then did a a VERY big poop, and then wanted a full 240ml bottle before going to bed.
in hindsight i would have kept him up until his poop and feed were done… but i made a mistake.
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I make a point of telling people i'm far from perfect – I have an extreme dislike for those who pretend to be perfect and are therefore *superior* to us minions… ppffaa.
Anyway, I'v made a fair few mistakes, but I'm proud to say i've learned from them. As for my parenting styles, i'v ditched the books and do things my way now. Ok, I didn't do that with my first baby, but i'm doing it now because I'v found some level of confidence in my instincts (in fact, I don't think I recognised my own instincts first time). My kids probably watch a little too much tv, but I wouldn't say it's extreme. My eldest most certainly has more sweets and chocolate than she should – but not from me. My husband and my MIL are the main culprits – I used to fight it, but she's not just my child. My youngest mostly sleeps on her tummy and has done from a young age. I started both of my children on solids before 6 months – my first because I was told by everyone that babies are meant to start at 4 months (mistake, she wasn't ready) and my second because she was showing every sign of being ready at 5 months, including being able to self feed. I used to let my first take a bottle/cup of milk to bed (until I found the yucky mattress mess – that stopped that promptly!). I once did a full car journey without realising that while the car seat was clipped into the base, the base wasn't strapped in (I felt awful when I realised). I'v given my child crisps to keep her quiet while doing my grocery shopping (no easy feat with 2 small kids, I'll do anything to make it easier!) In fact, I once gave her a punnet of raspberries, then ditched the box before we got to the checkout! lol
Ah soddit, bring on the thumbs down. I say we should highlight our imperfections – it makes us more human and more approachable for new mothers looking for help and support.
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My daughter is frequently dressed in outfits that are either sexually androgynous or just not cute. Think white onesie and ARMY green corduroy slacks with mismatched socks.
Sometimes I just don't have the time to find the pants that went with that cute pink shirt, so I'll end up mismatching shades of pink as well. It really does look horrendous sometimes, it's so funny. ^_^
My daughter watches TV too!
She loves spongebob and (apparently) America's Next Top Model.
I never bought a changing table and only tend to change her right in her crib! *gasp!*
I let her crawl under our low standing table and try to pull herself up on it! 0_0 (my grandma in law has a problem with this, she's like "You have to be more careful, she'll hurt herself!)
And, as you may have already read in a previous question, my apartment is frequently untidy.
I get an F in parenting, lol.
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Oh absolutely!!!
My son is 5 months, and I do pick him up sometines when he whinges and nothing wrong with him at all, getting him spoilt!
If he doesent eat his mashed veg i give him sweet baby cereal(oops!)sweet 'gums' already!
I sit him in front of the cartoons too if he's grizzly and he loves watching the colurs move around etc!
If anyone says they are the perfect mum there lying!!!
x
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5 month old gorgeous son
finally…some honest mothers! what is the world coming to really?who are people kidding when they act like they dont do a thing wrong?!
as for me…well my daughter is 5 months old and has already started solid foods and using a spoon- she loves it and her stomach can take it…the other day she was trying to sit up by herself and as she started to tumble i didnt catch her in time and she ended up face down on the floor…i felt awful but she didnt care…in fact she giggled till she was red in the face!
most mornings when she wakes up i cant drag mysef out fo bed to see to her so i always let my other half do it all before he goes to work and leaves me with her for the day…call it laziness if you want but i dont think it is
my morning lie in is like my treat before my work starts for the day with her…there are so many things i could list but i cant remember them all- im sure i do something that is seen as "wrong" or "bad parenting" at least once a day but my daughter has come to no harm and never will!
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i have moments when my son gets a little bit cranky and i think nothing is wrong… until 10 or so minutes later i realise he's poo'd his nappy AHHH i feel so bad when that happens
or when i'm too busy or too tired to make his food and feed him 'baby jar' food
or when i plonk him infront of the tv… yes i do haha but thats where his sheep skin, bouncer and play mat are… he loves looking up at the tv which makes him keep his head up longer, sort of a baby workout but he's only five months and i dont think he understands tv at the moment, except for larry the lawnmower haha
i have my flaws but i am a wonderful mummy… mistakes are always made but not harmful mistakes
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Hehe, I answered a question like this yesterday.
Some things I have done are:
Almost forget to strap him into carseat (cousin reminded me just in time, lol)
Have forgotten to strap him into pushchair, only remembered when I was on the train! I have an apron thing that goes over the pushchair so it wasn't obvious I hadn't strapped him in!
He watches baby TV in the morning while I get his BOTTLE (ooooh *hiss) ready. And he turns round to see it during the day. He loves it. I try to discourage it, but I do normally have it on in the background, so he watches it anyway.
I think I get annoyed with him too easily at points. He's normally a really placid baby, hardly ever cries to be honest, but I find it hard to deal with him when he's having an off day.
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Really good question – I am glad you asked this.
I started my son on solids when he was a week off 4 mos old (oops)
I listened to my mum, rather than the health visitors. (Not something i will do again)
When my son crys, i pick him up! Oops..
When my son crys to have my phone or something he isn't allowed (not things that could hurt him) i will give in and give him it!
When we're walking around the shops, if he gets fussy, i also give him a little chocolate or crisps to keep him quite.
I let him sleep in bed with me, hes now out of that routine, but the stick i got for it was unreal.
My son's daddy is always moaning at me, saying i am going to turn him spoilt.
I also go against something his daddy says, if i don't agree.
Ahh we're not perfect, just as you've said.
But we learn..
A really scruffy family got on the bus yesterday whilst me and my son was on, they had 2 boys who looked around 4 and 6 y/o. They went and sat somewhere they wasn't allowed and the "father" shouted down the bus as loud as he possibly could
"Get down here NOW, because when we get off this bus, i am going to f!!uckin batter you both"
Now, that is cause for major concern. Our little quirks are nothing.
We shrive to make sure our children are happy, weather that means going against the "rules" a bit? Who cares? It won't harm them.
References :
I've never claimed to be a perfect mother! So let's see, I work from the middle of the night to the early afternoon. So on my days off I like to sleep until at least 7am. so my 6yo feeds himself breakfast and play with his brother to keep him quiet until the clock hits 7 (usually like 15min) I don't always make the kids take a bath on the day they're scheduled to. (Boys are supposed to be 1 day and girls the next) I've forgot to buckle my youngest into his stroller only to have him jump out, trip, and skin his hand on the road. (Felt really bad after that one!) The list goes on and on. I pretend not to hear my kids arguing to see if they'll stop on their own. If I'm trying to get some cleaning done and everyone is in my way I sit them down in front of the tv to 'babysit' for a lil while till I can get something done. There's a short list!! HA
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Momma to 6yo, 3 yo angel, 20mo, pregnant with #4, and momma to 11yo niece
My Daughter is 11 months and aside from co-sleeping and weaning at 4 months (I know, shoot me) another regular in our house is TV. She has also tasted just about everything we've ever eaten (within reason as she has multiple food allergies) and *gasp* loves salt & vinegar pringles. I don't always remember to brush her teeth with her children's toothpaste and she has climbed into the dishwasher (which wasn't switched on) and sat there quietly for more than 5 minutes on more than one occasion. Oh and I often nap with her on the bed and forget to put her on the inside of me. She could eat a large portion of McDonald's fries if I let her and she has her dummy (paci) whenever she wants it.
I cant imagine what mischief we'll let her get into once she is actually walking on her own, I imagine they'll be a few worms consumed in the garden, lol
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My daughter also watches TV, especially while mommy has her coffee, in the morning.
The worst thing I've done, which I don't really want to admit is, I forgot to buckle her car seat. I was rushing around one morning, and asked my mom to put her in her car seat, which she "did"! I grabbed it, hooked it into the base in the car, and went to my grandmothers. When I got there, I went to unbuckle her, and realized it had never been buckled. It may look like it's my mothers fault, but it is really mine. She NEVER buckles it, I always go behind her and do it. I should have checked when I grabbed it to put it in the car. Now, I always double check, thank god, nothing happened!
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Well I must be far from it, everytime my daughter poo's it leaks, I'm glad shes started to poo only once a day coz sometimes the stains dont come out and she cant wear that piece of clothing again…the stains don't come out coz I never wash it straight away.
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Im soooo glad no one got any thumbs down on this one!
Soooo many things- She had some chocolate easter egg the other day
I have left her in the car while I rang into pay for petrol
I have bought some jarred baby food because its easier oh my god!
I once didnt strap her into the high chair and she slipped out (she was ok)
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I've been letting Alex get some naps in the car while I clean up the house. He's been fighting his sleep so much, that I'll put him in the car, take him for a little drive, come home, make sure the temperature in the car is good, and I'll come in and do a few things while he naps. I go out every 10 minutes or so to check the temperature in the car and make sure he's okay, plus I can see him from my window. We're at the end of a private road, so I'm not too concerned about anyone kidnapping him or anything.
We ate McDonalds last night for dinner.
I also tell him a lot that Grandma isn't home, because he always wants to call Grandma all the time.
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yeah this happens to me too.when i had to take my son for his 1 year check up i had to fill out a form about what he was able to do and i felt so bad cause some of the stuff he dont do because i have not done them with him yet i felt like i was such a bad mommy for not teaching him to clap or hug a bear or put blocks back in a box the doctor tests him on one and he does it after she shows him i felt so stupid.and the diaper thing yeah i forget sometimes too and he leaks through lol.other things like roll a ball back to me we have not played ball yet so i guess i need to get down on the floor and start doing these things but how was i suposed to know he should be doing these things i am a first timer.
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