S/O. What’s the worst thing you do as a parent?

[Anonymous]

I’m constantly exhausted from little sleep and high stress. By evening I’m irritable and feel horrid after I get impatient with my son who is a big talker.

[Anonymous]

I let my kids watch to much TV.

[Anonymous]

I say things I shouldn't say and yell when I really don't need to.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:On my phone too much.

+1. Also, in the early years I had a lot of anger. I have it under control now but I wish I'd had it under control then.

Are you me? I think the toddler years are just incredibly difficult. I find it much easier emotionally now that both my kids are out of the toddler years.

But yes, my phone habits have gotten AWFUL since it was my one life line to the outside for a year. But now I have more outlets since I'm vaccinated, and I need to be better about putting the phone down.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:On my phone too much.

+1. Also, in the early years I had a lot of anger. I have it under control now but I wish I'd had it under control then.

+100 anger (also has gotten better, but still get overwhelmed and then get snappy).... & phone. It's good to write this out. Helps renew resolutions for tomorrow!

Yep! Anger and phone. Toddlers took it out of me. Now at 2.5 and 4.5 I was just thinking that it had been months and months since I'd yelled. My youngest was a delayed talker and there were tantrums over EVERYTHING from 15 months to about 2 years.

[Anonymous]

During the pandemic, way too much TV, not enough outside time. I'm working too much, although I don't feel as if I have a choice given my family situation. When done with work and virtual school, I'm completely burnt out, impatient, irritable, then zone out with phone too much. My younger child with probable ADHD suffers.

During not pandemic, less TV but probably still too much, I'd still be working too much. Less burnout and less irritability b/c I'm not also trying to keep younger kid focused on school during the workday. Kids spend a lot more time outside b/c school and younger would go to aftercare.

I try not to beat myself up, but the virtual school has been going on for so long, it feels awful. I know lots have it worse, but I worry all the time about what it's doing to them.

[Anonymous]

I cannot get along with my mother and we have huge fights. But my mother and daughter love each other and every time my mom and I fight, DD doesn’t see her - sometimes for months at a time. It’s so unfair to my DD. My mother and I have even tried couples counseling and still have periodic blow ups.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m a horrible cook and worse baker. DH does most of the cooking and when I try I feel sorry for my kids.

Seriously? That's the worst thing you do as a parent? What sort of weird humblebrag post is this?

[Anonymous]

If that’s the worst thing I think you’re in good shape.

The worst thing I do is “be emotionally volitile.” I am working on it but I can tell that sometimes it’s hard for my emotionally sensitive one. She feels like she has to change her moods so that I don’t get upset. I tell her that my moods and emotions have nothing to do with her and that i alone am responsible for them, and maybe someday she will believe me.

[Anonymous]

Too much screen time, and I'm too lazy about letting them eat sweets and processed foods.

[Anonymous]

Phones and anger here too, three kids under 5. I think overall I'm doing pretty good though.

[Anonymous]

So much screen time. The 5 year old only eats about 5 foods, and I just don't want to deal with the tantrums, so I roll with it. I also hate playing with them. Barbie and trains bore me silly, and I just cannot fake it.

[Anonymous]

I’m anxious. So is my spouse, all of our parents, and my oldest daughter. The very best thing I have ever done for my kids was go on meds. Good bye irrational rage.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If that’s the worst thing I think you’re in good shape.

The worst thing I do is “be emotionally volitile.” I am working on it but I can tell that sometimes it’s hard for my emotionally sensitive one. She feels like she has to change her moods so that I don’t get upset. I tell her that my moods and emotions have nothing to do with her and that i alone am responsible for them, and maybe someday she will believe me.

Wow, I wish my mother had said this to me when I was a kid. Good for you for working on this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I cannot get along with my mother and we have huge fights. But my mother and daughter love each other and every time my mom and I fight, DD doesn’t see her - sometimes for months at a time. It’s so unfair to my DD. My mother and I have even tried couples counseling and still have periodic blow ups.

i have a hard time with my mother, too.

i regret it. no idea how to fix it.