Let's all come clean

[Anonymous]

I am starting this thread so we can all come clean about some things we do as moms that we feel guilty about, but perhaps shouldn't. My goal is to help us moms not be so hard on ourselves (and each other) by seeing that we're all human and NO ONE is the perfect mom. I hope that you all will use this thread for it's intended purpose and not as a forum to insult each other for the things you may not agree with in terms of parenting. This is intended as an eye-opener for everyone and hopefully a source of comfort for some of us moms who put too much pressure on ourselves to do everything right all the time.

Ok, so here goes:

My #1 mommy guilt confession is that I sometimes overuse videos (Baby Einstein and Sesame Street) for my 17-month old DS when I have a lot to do around the house or if we're cooped up inside due to bad weather. I am not a strict "no television," (obviously), so by overuse I mean that instead of the typical 30 minutes in the morning and 30 minutes before bed, I will show him an extra hour's worth during the day. For example, I am having company tomorrow and my husband is working today, so this morning he watched an hour while I got some food ready for our company. Then I plopped him in front of Disney's Playhouse (didn't even know what this was until I scanned channels for something age appropriate) in my bedroom while got dressed. I am a SAHM and some days are harder than others to keep him occupied with toys, books, etc... and quite frankly some days I have boundless energy to entertain him and other days I most definitely do not.

I have more to share, but just wanted to start with this one and see how this goes. Anyone else?

[Anonymous]

Good intent for the thread, hope others keep to it. I overuse TV and computer time for my 2 and 4 year old. I monitor what they watch (noggin ok, etc) but too much time for my 4 year old, especially, who loves the computer. Some days it is the only way I get a break.

[Anonymous]

I overuse TV as well.

Sometimes I allow my kids to eat unbalanced meals. Probably more often than I should.

[Anonymous]

Oh yeah, misuse of TV! Sometimes DS, age 3.5, spends literally all day in front of the TV. Just depends what is going on. If it happens, I usually try to balance it with a couple of days of awesome activities and outdoors time.

The other thing is McDonalds. Oh goodness, I swore I would NEVER EVER let my kids eat there. Then I had two children under three, and suddently chicken nuggets and apple dippers seems like a reasonable lunch twice a week. At least I don't let them have fries, sodas, or sauces. Everyone has their limits! LOL! Of course this seems even more awful considering that pretty much the only food I buy for home is organic, non-processed, no junk, no juice, etc etc.

[Anonymous]

Sometimes I just can't get myself to cook dinner. My DD won't eat meat anyway, so I let her go with a banana, some strawberries and a granola bar. Or even instant oatmeal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Or even instant oatmeal.

I do the same thing! It's just so easy...

[Anonymous]

I use my 7 yr old to help out with the 3 yr old sometimes. I'll be cooking in the kitchen and she's yelling something from the bathroom and I can't run up because the food will burn. So I will ask the eldest to run up and see what she needs and let me know if I really need to go up. He's always willing to do it, but sometimes I get a pang of guilt about doing it to him.

[Anonymous]

I yell sometimes. I hate myself for it.

[Anonymous]

I have an 8 month old
- I don't always strap him into his bouncy chair, high chair etc as securely as I should
- I don't always sterilize everything vigilantly (much to my mother's disapproval)
- just this week I have also yelled, so that it has made him jump and then start to cry...it is the worse feeling in the world

[Anonymous]

I have a 3 month old and sometimes I keep the TV on all day (for me) and watch crap TV like Keeping up with the Kardashians and Housewives of Orange County when I should be interacting with him or gazing into his eyes while feeding instead of gazing at the TV. I'm just so tired sometimes and also like to hear the sound of voices on the TV so I let myself get sucked in. I feel guilty about being so distracted.

[Anonymous]

lol - I wish I had done MORE of that when DS was 3 months ... he didn't care about staring into my eyes at that age and just wanted food and sleep. Enjoy a bit of E! TV and don't worry

[Anonymous]

I yell. Often.

[Anonymous]

I feel guilty about going back to work. What makes me feel worse, is that my children are loving, thriving even, in daycare. They love it, and often don't want to come home.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I yell sometimes. I hate myself for it.

Me too.

[Anonymous]

this thread is awesome. I'm guilty of all the above.