Do you ever worry that you are just a bad parent?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Whenever I think I might be a bad mom, I think back to all of those hours I spent watching Maury Povich in college. I think about the woman who fed her 50lb 1 year old nothing but ribs and Pepsi because "he won't eat nothing else."

And I think....I'm not doing so bad at this. My 1 year old only gets ribs every other day.

You are my hero today!

[Anonymous]

I don't worry that I'm a bad parent, I just accept it and keep it moving.

[Anonymous]

I have been thinking similar things, OP. Kids have pushed me to the limit, but I know that reacting in the cranky way I feel isn't teaching them how to handle when they are pushed to their limits. I see my own behaviors in their behavior that pushes all my buttons and I hate it.

I was told mindfulness is one way to help expand the mental time between a frustrating situation and your reaction, so I'm easing my way back into it as a habit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Whenever I think I might be a bad mom, I think back to all of those hours I spent watching Maury Povich in college. I think about the woman who fed her 50lb 1 year old nothing but ribs and Pepsi because "he won't eat nothing else."

And I think....I'm not doing so bad at this. My 1 year old only gets ribs every other day.

You are my hero today!

This made me literally LOL.

What is it with kids and ribs?! My kid hates meat, she has friends who hate meat, but they all LOVE ribs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Whenever I think I might be a bad mom, I think back to all of those hours I spent watching Maury Povich in college. I think about the woman who fed her 50lb 1 year old nothing but ribs and Pepsi because "he won't eat nothing else."

And I think....I'm not doing so bad at this. My 1 year old only gets ribs every other day.

You are my hero today!

This made me literally LOL.

What is it with kids and ribs?! My kid hates meat, she has friends who hate meat, but they all LOVE ribs.

Sugar...

[Anonymous]

Not really. I am not world’s best mom, I hate crafts, I do not enjoy playing kid games, I probably am not patient enough and I likely mess up stuff. But my kids know they are loved and have everything they need and a stable home life, they have lots of opportunities and I teach them lots of stuff. I have seen bad parents. Bad parents abuse their kids. Or neglect them. They hit them and berate them and do not provide for them. They don’t help them with their homework or worry about whether they are being bullied or take them to the doctor. No one here is likely a bad parent.

[Anonymous]

Mine is almost 4 and the interrupting, whining, constant "no's", and dramatics are turning me in a much worse parent than I used to be. I hate to yell, but JFC, the kid just DOESN'T LISTEN. It's the age, it's just hard. I'm sure you're doing great and hats off to you for dealing with two of them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Mine is almost 4 and the interrupting, whining, constant "no's", and dramatics are turning me in a much worse parent than I used to be. I hate to yell, but JFC, the kid just DOESN'T LISTEN. It's the age, it's just hard. I'm sure you're doing great and hats off to you for dealing with two of them.

Are you secretly living in my house? Same.

Op, every day I worry about this. Every day something really spectacularly good is achieved too. We try to do the repair work in the spot when things go sideways. Also, I ask her how her heart feels every night at bedtime. Most nights it’s happy, and the rare occasions it isn’t we talk about it.

[Anonymous]

OP here. Thank you for the commiseration and suggestions! I have never fed my kids ribs....I guess I should try that!

[Anonymous]

No. I just did not allow myself to get that exhausted. Give yourself a break. You are not superwoman. Working and kids, both take a toll. I am a SAHM and even I need some outsourcing at home to deal with everything. How do you think that you will handle two full time jobs? Really, cut yourself some slack, you are doing more than someone who has help and is staying home with her children. Tell DH to step in or just ignore the tasks and take a nap or something.