Today’s Friday question was posed by Maggie Ellison in South Carolina, USA. Maggie asks,
“When it comes to parenthood, is there anything you said you’d never do before you had kids, but later found yourself doing?”
Here’s what our World Moms Blog writers had to say…
Courtney Cappallo of Massachusetts, USA writes:
“Because I said so… – never thought I’d use that, but alas I do!”
Eva Fannon of Washington, USA says:
“Before I had kids I said I would never let them put stickers on the car windows – I always thought it looked awful. Now? I see it as my child’s artwork. 
”
Veronica Samuels of New Jersey, USA states:
“Oh gosh. I don’t know where to begin! Fall asleep with my baby in my arms, let my child sleep in my bed, let my daughter eat more than one piece of candy in a day, let my daughter watch too much T.V. I’m sure there are more, but I just can’t think of them!
Oh, on the other end of the spectrum, I definitely thought we’d have more family dinners during the week. The others above I can live with, but it’s the lack family dinners together because of my husband’s work schedule that I find disappointing. But, all we can do is try our best!”
Kirsten Jessiman of Toronto, Canada writes:
“I always told myself that I would never use faulty logic with my kids, but sometimes we just have to take the path of least resistance. So I find myself saying things like:
“Because I’m your mother, and I said so!”
“If you don’t go to school your imaginary monster friend will have to go there alone, and he’ll be sad.”
“If you keep sulking your face will stay like that.”
Tara Bergman of Washington, USA tells us:
“One day I told my son to “sit there and think about what you did.” After I said it, I burst out laughing at myself, because it sounded so old school. So much for reinforcing a message. However, it relieved the tension, and we were able to talk through the issue.”
Maggie Ellison of South Carolina, USA writes:
“I swore I would NEVER take my kids to McDonald’s. I held off for several years. Not sure if it was a long road trip or the apple juice that swayed me, but regardless it did happen.”
What about you? Is there something you said you’d never do, but you found yourself doing?
We’re off on Saturday. Then, on Sunday we post next week’s travel itinerary, and we’re back on Monday — see you then!
Photo credit to http://www.flickr.com/photos/mrbling/42711932/. This photo has a creative commons attribution license.
VERONICA without your husbands work schedule your family dinners could very well be only affordable at MCDONALDS!Cherish the moment & thank god for all you have!Besides right now keep in mind that his schedule allows you the time to put this truly world wide magnificent blog together.Keep up the good work & pray that ST ANTHONY finds your IPHONE!
LOVE TO ALL
Dad,
Glad to see you’re reading the blog…
Veronica 🙂
lol how funny!! I think we all don’t really “know” until it is our turn. We all have good intentions but we are a human. I swore up and down I would not let my child watch Hannah Montana. In kindergaten it was not a big deal, first grade 90 percent of the kids knew who she was & knew her songs that my child was starting to feel left out a lot. I finally gave it a chance and it was not terrible. There is a little too much kissing and boyfriend situations but always cute music and a lesson . Still I feel I really gave in. Never say never 🙂 lol
Jen,
Thank you for sharing your Hannah Montana story, and, thank you for reading World Moms Blog. I know that “giving in” feeling, and I’m glad you could relate to our topic today, too!
Veronica Samuels 🙂
That’s it Jen….never say never! LOL!
Good to read about all the “I will never”-comments, I feel like it takes some of the pressure off, I am sure I will be doing lots of things I said I never would… on a slightly different subject, I grew up in the seventies, and in the eigthies I once said that I would never ever were flares, then the nineties came and I got a pair – my dad never lets me forget…
Veronica, I totally sympathize with the family dinners. I thought I would be like a young, hip suzy homemaker when I went on maternity leave (3 square meals made a day, a spotless house, homemade baby sweaters and blankets out the wazoo, etc.). The reality is, I don’t have a lot of time or energy for any of those things. I am most sad about the cooking (also, my husband’s schedule is all over the place and he works evenings quite a bit so it makes dinner tricky).
I have a ton of broken “I will nevers”, and I am sure as my daughter gets older, the list will grow longer (Whitney is a little young for phrases I swore never to utter like “because I said so” but I’m sure it’s coming!). The big ones include television (I swore she wouldn’t watch any at all, and now the tv is on all day), junk food (I was even “against” juice, which I’ve just recently lightened up on. Maggie, McDonald’s was on my list, too. Whitney’s not even 1 yet and she’s visited the golden arches on more than 1 occasion), and routine (I used to think it would make her fussier – less flexible, I guess – in the long run and didn’t want to be held hostage by a nap schedule. Now I realize a routine keeps both of us happy and sane).
Moragandme,
I think it’s so difficult to comprehend how busy motherhood is until you’re actually in it! At least, that has been my experience. My daughter is 3 and 1/2 now, and the other things have been getting easier, but I do find it difficult to stick to my plans still. It’s difficult for me to stay structured!
We started doing this though — having my husband pick one day of the week where he can be home on time for dinner. It’s really tough to stick to, but when it does happen then — success! And, if he can’t one week, we just have to remember that it’s a priority and try again the next. I think he and I will have to find other ways around it, but I just have to realize that family dining is not as practical as I thought it would be. Maybe we should be doing more big dinners on Sundays. Well, that’s an idea…I think I found my New Year’s Resolution — thanks!
Good luck with everything and know that your’e not alone in family scheduling mayhem!!
Thank you for reading!
Veronica Samuels 🙂
We’re all human and it’s great to share it! 😀