What's your parenting superpower? What's your parenting kryptonite?

[Anonymous]

My superpower would probably be organization. I know where everyone is supposed to be, and when, and we always have everything we need with us - sports equipment, books, homework, snacks, etc. The kids get regular checkups, I can always find the random library books before they're due, the cat gets fed and cleaned up after, that sort of thing.

I readily admit that the list of things that could be my kryptonite is long But if I had to choose one thing with the biggest impact it would be my lack of patience. That's a work in progress for me.

[Anonymous]

Superpower: No idea, my kids eat well and are really well-behaved kind kids, according to teachers and friends. I'm not sure I had much to do with that.

Kryptonite: I have no patience for normal kid whininess/messing around/goofing off when they're supposed to be doing something, like putting on their shoes. Other parents/teachers seem to be able to indulge it/cajole them to get back on task without raising their voice. I go straight to snapping at them "what are you doing? just put on your freaking shoes!"

[Anonymous]

Superpower: I think I'm the right amount of involved but nor overbearing when it comes to sports, teachers, etc. Also other parents really like me (organized and approachable) so I tend to become a leader that other parents go to.

Kryptonite: I don't have a lot of patience, and I can have trouble saying no (would rather give in than take a hard line, though I try not to let me kids see this).

[Anonymous]

Superpower: My teen boys know I trust their judgment and have their back, so they confide in me and want to spend time with me.

Kryptonite: I can be so impatient and quick-to-anger with those same boys and their young sibling. I think my anxiety about making sure something is 'just so' causes that. Clutter and arguing back really set me off.

[Anonymous]

Superpower: I am patient, can make kids laugh and rock imaginary play.

Kryptonite: Excessive loud noise.

[Anonymous]

Superpower: I excel at doing hands-on things with my kids. Cooking, crafting, sewing, teaching an instrument or dance, whatever. I love helping with creative school projects. I'm not scared of making a mess with them and can call on patience that is otherwise hard to come by.

Kryptonite: I absolutely lose my mind with running, slamming doors (UGH!!!), and horseplay in the house, especially when we need to be focusing on leaving the house, getting ready for bed, etc. I know I should have more tolerance for it but it is so triggering and I end up yelling.

[Anonymous]

Superpower: Extremely high energy and very rarely overwhelmed. I've worked on a trading floor and in an ER.

Kryptonite: I sometimes forget that kids are, well, kids and I try to talk to them like adults (see above) who are scared/distressed/worried and not kids.

[Anonymous]

I don't know about superpower but my kryptonite is absolutely vomit. I can't deal. I wind up retching too....especially if I smell it.

[Anonymous]

Superpower: I can make a meal that my son will actually eat with whatever we have on hand. My husband will always say we don't have anything but I can whip something random up

Kryptonite: I get "touched out" very quickly. If I don't get to decompress I can get a little snappy.

[Anonymous]

Superpower: I can outlast her tantrums, staying calm and disengaging. Fingers crossed it keeps working.

Kryptonite: My patience runs out pretty quickly when she starts to whine. That's when I have to step out of the room and let DH take over because he's much better at dealing with the whining.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Superpower: I can always get her laughing.
Kryptonite: staying calm during a tantrum.

This is me as well.

[Anonymous]

Superpower: I have 4 kids and don't feel overwhelmed. It just works with my personality. I can keep organized and shave out individual time. It isn't difficult for me.
Kryptonite: I can't take multiple screens/ devices on at once. With 6 people this is bound to happen. But when I hear a TV + an iPad + my husbands podcast blasting in the office I want to scream. It can blow my temper if you catch me on the right day. One of my kids went "if you want mom to "work" (meaning function as human not go to place of employment) you have to wear headphones."

[Anonymous]

Superpower: I almost never lose my temper. I have yelled at my kid three times in three years.

Kryptonite: I let him watch too much TV and I let him eat in front of the TV.

[Anonymous]

Superpower: I don’t get stressed or angry very easily; when I do, I get over it very quickly. I think maybe I don’t experience emotions as intensely as others. When people say X bad thing happened, so I couldn’t function... that just doesn’t happen to me. I may be missing out in some ways, but it’s very handy for 3 kids just 4 and under. My DH handles stress well— has a job that requires it — but really feels the stress; not me.

Kryptonite: I am not good at holding a line when it doesn’t matter in that moment but would be useful overall. Like I let my kids get away with not cleaning up if we don’t have guests coming; let them watch an extra 30 minutes if TV if we have nothing planned/ they aren’t late for bed. Let them have an extra juice box when they ask for it.

[Anonymous]

Superpower: the TV.
Kryptonite: the TV.

This is just a joke.