Everyday we do our best as parents to take care of our children. We make every effort to raise our children to be responsible, caring adults. We try to be understanding and supportive. Once in a while, you fail -- miserably. Why can't parenting come with a handbook? Do you need a little pick me up so you can say, "At least I didn't do THAT!" Let me share with you a few of my recent faux pas.
1. Spring is here! I am so ready to clear out the heavy coats for lighter jackets. Peanut rides in a car seat on the bus everyday. I've recently learned that children should not be put in a car seat with their heavy coats on. I take Peanut's coat off in my car, but on the bus, it's just not reasonable. I figure the bus is safer anyway, but everyday I buckle her in with her coat on. (Please don't report me.) Since the weather was getting warmer, I switched to a little fleece jacket. The other day I got a note from her teacher. She said it was too cold outside and I needed to send a heavier coat. (In my defense, I at least had a hat and gloves in her backpack). Remember, I'm not only a mother but a day care provider. I should really know better. Strike one!
2. MA is on antibiotics for her recent illness. MA has recently learned to swallow pills so we got her prescription in pill form. The other night she was struggling getting the pill down. I don't do evenings. After about 8:00 I turn very grumpy (like many non-morning people feel before 8:00 a.m.) MA started throwing a fit about the pill and I was far from supportive. In fact, I started yelling at her. I actually tried shoving the pill in her mouth at one point. By this time the pill was starting to dissolve. I did walk away but that didn't last and came back still mad and frustrated and yelling. Eventually we got the pill down, (or the dissolved mess) but when she went to bed she was crying. At least I did go up to her before she went to sleep and apologized. She has discovered that taking the pill with orange juice helps because it is thicker and somehow masks the pill. Strike two!
3. I try to read all the little notes that come home from school, but I know I miss some. Diva often opens her backpack and starts shoving papers at me while I'm trying to prepare lunch. Today I sent the girls to school. MA and Diva walk. At 8:30 I got a call from the school. "Uhm, Mrs. Yost, today is Kindergarten round-up. Kindergartners don't have school today. We have Diva in the office, you need to come get her." I was the only parent that seems to have missed the note. (I'm considering calling the school this afternoon to see if any afternoon kindergartners come just to make me feel better.) Strike three!
I'm out. There, do you feel better now?
Friday, March 28, 2008
Parenting Blunders
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17 comments:
Hi Debbie - you're not the only one that gets things wrong. We all make parenting blunders.
I've actually accidentally tipped both children out of their pushchairs because I forgot to strap them in!
Hi Cath,
It's nice to know I'm not alone! Hopefully we get it right more often than not.
If it's any consolation, not only do I miss a good half of the flyers that come home from school, I also forget to have Abby do her homework at least once or twice a week. Oops...
Hi Deb -
Ah yes, homework. I hate it. The math usually gets done but I staying on top of the nightly reading and flute practice. Since MA is older, it's somewhat her responsibility, but I'm really bad at making sure Diva gets her reading in since I'm the one who has to do the reading.
Oh Debbie ~ As a mom of 24 & 25 year old boys (sorry men) I know we all have our days.
1. Can you send a heavier jacket into school? Perhaps one which they can keep there for cooler days?
2. Next time try a putting the pill in a spoon full of applesauce, this generally helps it to slide down a little easier.
3. You're on your own on this one!
Hi Puppies,
It looks like next week will be warmer so I'm hoping I can retire the heavy coat for good.
I tried putting the pill in sugar with a drop of water, but she was too worked up by that point. We finally put it in bread. The o.j. seems to be really working for her.
Thanks for the advice, though. I will certainly keep it in mind in case things go south again!
hay deb
Blogs are there for the good bad and ugly everyone make mistakes. Another thing I have been taking meds for a while now but when I was MA age I took my pills with yogurt and pudding.
ps I hope MA is feeling beater soon and is able to abandon the pills for a while
I didn't know you weren't to strap kids into a car seat with a heavy coat. In our climate it's nearly impossible - they'd freeze!
And it's so nice to hear that others are prey to the bad parent thing too. Thanks for confessing.
LOL! I always put my toddler in her seat with her coat on. OOPS! I also get mad at my daughter when she just won't do things right (usually before 8 am as I'm not a morning person) and find sometimes I yell. I have to walk away so I don't get so frustrated, but usually when I come back, I'm still mad. So, see you are not alone! Plus, you'll see when I start posting again that I do have many more mess-ups than you! :)
Hi AZ -
Thanks for the tip on taking pills. I'll have to remember that one.
Karen and Jen -
I heard the thing about the coat on the blog "Because I Said So" I've often taken the coats off before that, but more for my kids' comfort. There were all kinds of women writing in saying you have to take the coats off and giving all these websites. I never looked at the websites but figured, it must be true. I guess it has something to do with the amount of gap the cushion of the coat makes between the child and the straps. My husband's friend is the Chief of the local Fire Department and I had my husband ask him about it because he didn't believe me.
girl you are seriously not alone. i am 100% sure that my "mother of the Year" nominations was revoked long long long ago...since i haven't won it yet.
perfection is so over rated!
#1 and #2 yeah, I've done this type of thing, but #3-LOL!!! I'm sorry, but this is just too funny, My kids have a lot of school years left, so I wouldn't be suprised if I did this someday.
Yes, we all have our blunders! I also have to admit that I never take off my kids' coats before buckling them in. When we first start out, the car is way too cold! I just don't get that one. How are you supposed to manage that?
But sending her to school when there was no school? That is just hilarious!
Oh, we've all done stuff like that!
I can't tell you how many times I sent Hannah to the bus stop in 1st grade because I didn't realize it was one vacation or work day or another. And she would stand out there. Forever.
I'm always glad for summer when there's a moratorium on papers. Oy! The papers!
You are not alone - I've so been there.
That last one in funny!
I have been sending Max in with a lighter jacket too. I haven't gotten any notes though! You never know if the day is going to be warm or cool.
1. In the kind of weather we've been having, it's so hard to know how to dress. Tell the teacher to take a chill pill. I'm betting you weren't the only parent who had a problem guessing correctly! Would it have killed them to do something inside for one day if it was that cool?
2. I CANNOT let pills touch my mouth or I will gag and/or barf. Period. My mother taught me how to take a mouthfull of water, rock my head back and then drop the pill into the liquid and swallow it all at once. WHOOSH! And away goes trouble, down the drain!
3. LOL! I'm sorry, but this is just funny. Consider it a lesson in natural consequences for Diva. I'm betting that the next time she'll make good and darn sure that you know about her days off!
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