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You are here: Home / Parenting Life & Humour / Parenting Humour / My Parenting Mistakes

My Parenting Mistakes

Written by Josie

As parents, we all make mistakes. I thought I’d take a light hearted look at some of my parenting mistakes, in the hope it’ll make other mums feel better about there own mistakes.

 

Reading “The Contented Little Baby Book”

My mistakes started early, while I was still pregnant in fact. Some, presumably well meaning, person recommended Gina Ford’s The Contented Little Baby Book to me. I so wish I hadn’t taken that recommendation (there was no chance of that happening because I like to read ALL the books). If ever there was a book to set you up with false expectations about parenthood, this is it. If it were to be believed (and believe it, I did) your baby will be in a feeding routine from day 1 and sleeping through the night at 4 weeks.

 

Not doing NCT classes

I didn’t know much about NCT classes (The National Childbirth Trust) before I got pregnant (who does?). I somehow got it in to my head that they were anti pain relief (maybe I thought it was the Natural Childbirth Trust?) and this put me right off doing the classes. When I was stuck at home with a small baby I quickly realised I needed other mums to talk to. While I did eventually make mum friends, it would have been much quicker if I was part of an NCT group.

 

Buying all of the stuff

I pretty much lived in Mothercare when I was a new mum. And when I wasn’t in Mothercare, I was online ordering the latest baby miracle product from Amazon. I was the ultimate new mum marketer’s dream. I wish someone had just sat me down and gently explained that there was no product that would making parenting easier. Actually maybe that would have been worse…

 

Not being more careful with the sun cream

You know how it is. The kids just want to go and play but you need to get cream on them first. It’s more like a wrestling match with an increasingly slippery alligator. I have to fess up to doing a pretty slapdash job some of the time, which has resulted in the odd sunburn patch. I learnt my lesson when Boy Chid got Hell’s Itch. I would rather wrestle 10 oil coated alligators than go through that again.

 

Not believing my child when they say they are going to be sick

This is a bit of an ongoing thing for me. Boy Child was off sick (because he’d been sick) and Girl Child said she felt sick too. I was convinced she was trying to get the day off school. That was until her teacher phoned to say she’d thrown up all over the classroom floor. There have also been numerous occasions where one has said they felt sick in the car and I haven’t believed them. I’ve said “you can’t feel sick yet, we’ve only been in the car five minutes” and “you’re fine, we’re nearly there” only to have them prove me wrong. I once arrived at my friends house only for Girl Child to immediately throw up all over her floor. You’d think I’d learn my lesson.

 

Forgetting about a school event

When Boy Child was in year 3, they had to invent their own chocolate bar. The parents were invited in to try it. I got the invite. I put it in the diary. On the morning in question, I sent him in with the ingredients. And yet, I still forgot to actually got to the school for the tasting. I only realised when I left the house for the school run. I ended up crying over the other mums in the queue for pick up because I felt so bad. Boy Child was heartbroken. He eventually forgave me and I now put reminders in my phone for EVERYTHING.

 

So that’s just a small selection of the mistakes I’ve made since becoming a parent, I haven’t even mentioned the time I let my 11 month old knock her baby tooth out. I’d love to hear some of yours (go on, don’t let me feel like I’m the only one!)

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My parenting mistakes

Filed Under: Parenting Humour

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Jacqui says

    September 17, 2019 at 1:59 pm

    I also didn’t do any classes, and I do somewhat regret it. I guess just having a little more insight into what was about to happen, would have been helpful! #itsok

    Reply
  2. MomOfTwoLittleGirls says

    September 16, 2019 at 6:37 pm

    Buying All The Stuff is a serious mistake that I made. I think it’s cos I just had NO clue what to do or what was necessary or, more importantly, unnecessary!
    #itsok

    Reply
  3. Liberty on the Lighter Side says

    September 16, 2019 at 2:09 pm

    I avoided that book thankfully before I had babies as I’d been warned about it, although I read it out of curiosity and it only annoyed me. However I’ve made heaps of mistakes mainly to do with not keeping my cool, being grumpy and not listening to my kids. It’s really impossible to be the perfect parent but we all beat ourselves up when we’re not! #itsok

    Reply
  4. Charlotte stein says

    September 15, 2019 at 6:30 am

    Oh the Gina Ford routine, brings memories of wondering why he wouldn’t go to sleep in his quiet dark room at precisely 9 am for his first nap of the day. The realisation that I wouldn’t have any adult interaction or a life if I followed it to a tee! #itsok

    Reply
  5. Nicole - Tales from Mamaville says

    September 15, 2019 at 12:08 am

    Parenting is a continuous learning curve, isn’t it? If we’ve cracked one stage, another immediately tests us. NCT classes were a boon (well, not so much the classes themselves but the friendships made and the support received during those first few months from your new mom friends). Glad I did those. But agree with you on the buying all of the stuff bit – even though I didn’t go absolutely insane, I bought far more than was actually needed or really used. Well, we live and learn, #itsok!

    Reply
  6. Helen Copson says

    September 11, 2019 at 9:48 pm

    My biggest mistake was joking with the sonographer that she was going to find twins in there. She did! And yes, you should have definitely done NCT. I totally bought my mates for the bargain price of £220 🙂 #itsok

    Reply
  7. Sarah | Digital Motherhood says

    August 31, 2019 at 10:14 pm

    Yes to all of these!! Especially the first one, god I hated that vook, pretty sure I threw it in the bin!

    Reply
  8. Marta - Imperfect Life Balance says

    August 20, 2019 at 10:44 pm

    Definitely buying all the things! Especially clothes that they grew out of before they could actually wear them. Or buying cute but totally not practical outfits that my kids either refused to wear or were too challenging to put on them 😉

    Reply
  9. Jo | My Anxious Life says

    August 20, 2019 at 1:25 pm

    Parenting is a constant stream of mistakes! My latest is the situation my 2 year old has coerced me into where he will only do a poo standing up, and if I catch it………

    Reply
  10. Maryanne says

    August 20, 2019 at 1:00 pm

    You nailed all of these points! I guess I’m quite lucky being a Nanny. I see so many first time parents do the same and buy soo many products. And it’s a good point, I’m sure they do think it’ll make it all easier! Don’t beat yourself up about missing things, also see parents feel horrible about this but I guess in years to come, will they really remember? Take care,
    Nanny M x

    Reply
  11. Kim Carberry says

    August 19, 2019 at 8:43 pm

    Those ruddy baby books are so bad especially for first time mothers. Every baby is different and the advice should be taken with a grain of salt.
    hahaha! I bought everything first time around. Cost a small fortune and probably only used half of it. lol
    I still don’t believe it when my girls say they feel sick until it’s coming out of their mouths. x

    Reply
    • Jodie says

      September 11, 2019 at 2:17 pm

      We bought a book read some of it and that’s all.

      Reply

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A blog about trying to raise independent kids while retaining a sense of humour. Me: I’m Josie, a 43 year old introvert and former librarian. Them: My husband Chris, Boy Child who is 11 and Girl Child who is 9. The others: Hera the cat and Baxter the dog. Read More…

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