It’s humbling to recall all the things you said you’d never do when you became a mom back before you became a mom and had responsibilities or an SUV or your house looked like Babies R Us threw up all over it.
Here are just a few of mine:
- I swore I’d wait until Lucas was two (just like the American Academy of Pediatrics says you are suppose to) until he was allowed to watch TV. Yeah, right! Some days, I don’t know how we survive without Elmo.
- I always said I’d never feed Lucas French fries, but today it’s all he’s had because it’s all he’ll eat.
- I never thought I’d ever take my child out in public wearing only his pyjamas, but it’s happened. More than once.
- I didn’t want to be the parent that let their child run ammuck in a restaurant. Done that too. It was only once and it was on the patio and there was only four other diners.
- I promised myself I wouldn’t use bribery to get my child to do what I wanted him to do, but you know what? It works! Even on a 16 month old.
- I said I’d never let my child’s bottle/fork/spoon/sippy cup/food hit the floor without thoroughly washing it off before giving it back to him. Ever heard of the 10 second rule? I’m building his immunities.
- I never wanted that lovey to leave his crib, but now that god damn thing goes everywhere with us and we have two back ups!
- I always thought I could get Lucas on some sort of regimented schedule of feedings and naps. Whatever… I have given up on that!
Ah, yes, the great pronouncements we make when we think we know it all, the things that we end up having to take back. Turns out you only know it all until you actually become a parent.
One of the things I said I’d never do actually backfired on me and I’m grateful. I vowed to never give my baby a pacifier and even though we tried to force one on him, Lucas wasn’t having any part of it. Thank you, God for small favors!
What are some things you said you’d never do?
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I read over your last few posts. I sure have those grief attacks, too. They can take your breath away. Sometimes it just seems impossible that your loved one is gone. I think it happens most when someone dies before you expect them to die. –Hope you start feeling better. –I can imagine as a parent you do lots of things you said you would not. Take care. Lots of love,
This reminds me of that saying, "I was a better mom before I had kids." 🙂 Again, good on ya' for telling it like it is…Parenting is a process, and it's silly to think we can have all the answers before we have experience. The good news is that Lucas will grow up just fine, even if he watches Elmo and has a french-fry-centric day (or three). I can guarantee he won't take the lovey to college or run amok at his graduation luncheon. Also, you *are* building his immunity by not sterilizing everything. You rock!
My mom cackles every time I tell her about a form of bribery we've used with the kids b/c I used to swear up and down that I would *never, ever* bribe them. I'm sure there are more things, but the bribery is the one that jumps right now.
"Before I got married I had 6 theories about bringing up children; now I have 6 children, and no theories." ~John Wilmot
LoL I love this. I "knew" so much about kids before I had kids. Like the ones who throw fits in stores & restaurants? Yeah, I had that all figured out before I was a parent. And you know what I discovered? You really *can't* control them sometimes. Sometimes it's just disaster management…hehe
Welcome to real life 🙂
You are a better mom because you changed and adapted to him. That's what its all about.
We are always the best parents EVER!
Until we have children. 😉
Oh I was an awesome parent before kids! The pyjamas in public one was broken for sure, probably early on. And I laughed about the french fries, because we were sure we wouldn't do McDonalds….and yeah, we did.
I am so happy that I'm not the only Mommy Sinner….
maddie is just NOW getting into loveys. Kate never did. Maddie doing it is driving me batty because she wants to leave the house with it, and she wants more and more of them IN her crib. I've started to put a limit on number in her crib and what actually heads out the door and to school drop-off.
Mine was that I'd never put my kids in pants that were too short. But Tater grows like a weed and as soon as I buy them, they seem too short.
Also, I said I'd never argue with my kids. Ha ha. Enough said about that!