I was so happy when my husband and I found out that we were expecting our little bundle of joy, just over four years ago. My little lady will be celebrating her third birthday next month so I thought that I would do a little post about all the things that I told myself that I would never do, but three years into parenthood has seen me do every single one of them.
A dummy
Before having my daughter I thought of myself as an expert on children and would always be the first to offer my know it all expertise. I would bang on about what was good for a child and what was bad for them, a dummy being something that new parents shouldn't rely on. If I could go back, I would bitch slap that know it all me in the face! Becoming a parent is full of surprises. It doesn't matter how many books, parenting forums or articles you read, nothing can completely prepare you for parenthood. Being a parent is hard, harder than I had ever imagined. In the midst of bottles, nappies, cries and sheer exhaustion, I completely caved in and gave my daughter a dummy - she was only two days old.
TV
Oh my, I remember telling myself 'don't be one of those mums' who allow their young children to watch television. Be that mum who chooses to read a book, take them for a walk, play with them or organise some kind of sensory play. Haha, who the hell was I kidding. Seriously! When you are that sleep deprived who wants to go on a lovely walk, no one. Absolutely no one. All we want is for our new born to not cry for hours on end, just so we can get a few minutes sleep. Cbeebies you were my saviour and will continue to be for those 4 am get ups. So yes, I am a parent who will allow their child to have screen time. Don't judge me when I say that I enjoy giving my daughter a little bit of screen time. It's not hard to guess why though? Peace and quiet to enjoy my cup of tea. Those fifteen minutes are absolutely magical. Please tell me I'm not the only one. Parenting is hard and we deserve those fifteen minutes to catch a breath and shouldn't be made to feel as if we are doing something wrong.
'Bad' food.
It would only be fresh and organic home made food for my little one. No jarred foods, no crisps, no nuggets and certainly no McDonalds. I would take the time to prepare their food everyday and make silly faces out of their food, Pinterest I blame you for setting that bar so high. Fast forward three years and going through sleep exhaustion, teething and too many tantrums there are times where only chicken nuggets and waffles will do.
Baby Spam
Yes I am guilty as charged. If you check my Instagram or Facebook it's full of my daughter's little face, whether these are angelic captures or a snap of a complete meltdown because I have said no to a lollipop. I am an over sharer. I have probably even lost a few friends because I am obsessed, so be warned any future followers or likers there maybe statuses about the consistency of her poops and 100s of uploads from my camera roll of the same picture. GUILTY.
Tantrums in public
Both my brother and sister had children way before I joined them in parenthood, so I have seen a tantrum or two. I remember thinking to myself when they were trying to deal with their little sprog that I can't believe they are allowing their child to go crazy with arms and legs kicking before stepping in. I told myself that I wouldn't allow that behaviour and will do everything in my power to prevent a complete meltdown. Seriously this one is cause for another bitch slap from that know it all childless person who thought they knew everything about being a parent before actually knowing what it's like. When a child doesn't get what it wants it becomes a demon. You have to run and hide and deny all claims to that child who is having a complete meltdown because you took a quaver.
Bribery
I remember my Auntie's little boy having an almighty meltdown in a shop, he was lying on the floor, banging his hands on the floor and kicking his feet. I couldn't believe it. But one little word stopped all his melodramatic meltdown, McDonalds. I kid you not, that little word saw my cousin turn from a demon child to such an angelic and well behaved child. I remember thinking I will never ever bribe my child. Three years into parenthood my little girl knows exactly what to do to get her dad to buy her an overpriced mashem, or some form of food. I am just as guilty though, food is the ultimate bribery.
Letting myself go
I will make time to shower every morning, style my hair and never leave the house without a full face of makeup. Never ever will I let myself go. Hmmm. I have never been blessed with a beautiful bod, but having a child I swore that I wouldn't turn into shamoo. But you know what I am far from shamoo but I'm partial to squeezing my mum tum in leggings and oversized tees and totally rock the no make up look with the oh so essential mum-bun. Being a stay at home mum to a very feisty toddler can make it difficult to always look fresh faced. She drives me crazy when I am trying to get showered, dressed and attempt my makeup, with lots of requests to use the potty or asking if she can have a look. But if I do manage to get up, get showered and dressed to look half decent by the time my husband walks in I look like a complete yeti, with dribbles, snots and stains all over my clothes including makeup smears. I often find myself asking myself was there a point. Some days are made for PJs, mum buns and being a complete slob. So bugger you, you childless know it all.
Are there things you swore you would never do before entering the world of parenthood? I'd love to hear about them.
Lol I think I've done pretty much all of these things too! Haven't we all? As you say, parenting is hard, we take what we can in help just to get through the day sometimes!
ReplyDeleteI think I've done all these and many more I'm sure, parenting is a tough job and we put so much pressure on ourselves. But really we shouldn't life is hard sometime xx
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