Happy Monday ya’ll. I don’t know about you, but I am so ready for Spring. Seeing all the Easter dresses and decorations out, as well as bathing suits, is making me real antsy for some warmer weather. Sometimes winter can seem so long, so dark and so cold. We need some sunshine in the Inland Northwest. I am hoping to get a dose of it in a few weeks when we travel back to Montana to see family. Montana friends you better have sunshine in the forecast.
While out and about the past few days getting errands completed and checked off my list, and shopping for birthday gifts for various family members and friends, I couldn’t help but notice parents and their kids. You see parents of all ages with kids of all ages, and it’s fun to hear their conversations with their children, see their facial expressions, watch their actions. So many moms and dads look exhausted, on their last straw, or in need of a triple shot expresso. While other parents are full of smiles, look like they stepped out of a fashion magazine and have tons of energy to share.
I’ve been both types of parent. I have done my fair share of grocery shopping in sweats and rainboots, sans makeup and with a high ponytail. While other times, I’ve been more on top of my game, as the youngsters like to say, dolled up and dressed to impress if you must. It had me thinking of the little secrets we parents keep. The little things that maybe no one else knows we do (but I am convinced most every parent has done it), especially our kids.
So today I share with you the secrets of parents. I’ve done all of these and many more, and I know I am not the only one out there. So rest assured you aren’t alone, and because of my own actions I can’t judge.
10 Secrets of Parents
- We use our kids to get out of things – From coffee dates to helping a friend move, we’ve made the excuse
“Oh I wish I could but little Johny has a bad cold or he has this thing…….” Sometimes it’s nice to have an excuse to leave early when things are awkward, “We better go it’s past little Lucy’s bed time.” Yeah I’ve done it. - We bribe our children – Whether its to clean their plates, behave while in the store, or clean their rooms, we sometimes use bribery. “If you stop crying, I’ll give you a treat.”
- We hide candy or other treats so we can have ALL of it – Sometimes you just don’t want to share, so some treats are only to be found by us and consumed by us alone. Because after all sharing isn’t always caring…..
- We use our own spit to clean our kids faces – Don’t have time to make a stop in the bathroom, there’s nothing a mom or dad’s spit and a kleenex or even piece of clothing can’t clean. Yes, I’ve cleaned R’s face many of times with my own saliva, and hey I’m proud of it.
- We let our kids scream so we can get a sit faster – At restaurants where the wait is long, I’ve let R scream, because I guaranteed we’d be seated next. Like magic it works. Your food comes faster in most cases and you can use kids to your advantage (other times it’s bit me in the butt).
- We let our kids eat off the floor – Sometimes the 10 second rule or even 1 minute rule applies. Food that drops on the floor or ground, that I would never eat, is grabs for the kids. We may not do it all the time, but lets be honest our kids have had food from questionable places.
- We’ve baked cookies for the neighbors and used our kids when they don’t turn out right – There’s been a Christmas where I’ve messed up a batch of cookies, and said “Oh the kids helped make these, that’s why the frosting is all wacky.” Kids…..
- We let the TV babysit the kids – Sometimes we need down time or just quiet time, so on goes a movie or Disney and out goes Mom like a light. I actually haven’t used this with R yet, because we don’t do TV, but at my sister’s house we’ve done it with the nephews.
- We fib just a little to save face – When the hubby asks, “what happened to Johny’s face?” and you reply “Oh he just tripped and hit his head when we were at the park, you know kids.” When really, you turned your head for a second and Johny fell out of a booth at a restaurant and hit his noggin on the hard floor, or he fell of the park bench because of your interest in your Instagram feed. Anything to save a little face, because we don’t want to feel like bad parents after all.
- Sometimes a less than healthy place makes dinner – Whether it’s McDonalds (which I honestly can say I haven’t resorted to yet), pizza or the deli at the grocery store, we’ve resorted to it to feed the hungry bellies. Let’s face it some nights are rough and days long, and the last thing we want to do is cook. Yes, even the nutritionist has bad “cook” days.
Believe me this list could keep going. There’s things as parents we aren’t proud about, but sometimes life happens and we go with the flow. And other times we have proud parent moments. Our kids have worn dirty underwear or socks, because the laundry didn’t get done, or they’ve gone a few plus days without bathing, and even mom has too (dry shampoo fix). And what about that time you lost a kid at the park….I haven’t lost R yet, but I have lost kids when I was a nanny. Worst feeling ever, but again I’m not the only one.
Until Next Time Be Whole and Be Fit
What’s your secret?