10 Things I said I would never do with my own child…

Before I had a child of my own, I had these ideals of how I was going to raise my child, I thought I was going to be this highly-rational, perfect mom. And as my little boy was growing up, I’d totally be ready to move to being the “got it all together mom” (I still hold onto this hope!). But, given that the practical world stepped-in and cruelly slapped me upside the head, I have re-assessed my ability to be that rational mom I thought I’d be…

1. I will never, ever give him soda.Right, so as he screamed in my ear the one day and only having soda on hand, I finally caved…all he wanted was a sip…oh, maybe not…oops.
2. French fries?! Not my baby!And no chips, either! So, I suggest you see item #1. I am such an easy pushover.
3. Baby, it’s cold-you need a hat.Just like my hats, baby’s hats are often hidden in the deepest crevasses of the house. For some reason, that’s where they belong and they just gravitate toward those lost-laundry-locations…So, although I can put a coat on baby-boy, I cannot ever find a hat.  I mostly these days opt for a jacket with a hoodie.
4. Don’t you need a clean outfit now that a spec of food got on you?The baby needs clean clothes.  All the time. I can’t keep the child clean. It’s like asking Pig-Pen from Charlie Brown to be constantly clean…  He’s just a messy-baby. And since I can’t keep up, I often give up. I know it’s wrong, but I can’t run the wash 24/7, nor can I afford 900 onesies.
5. The 5-second rule will NOT apply to my baby.Um, I’d like to say that food that touched the floor never, ever then passed my child’s lips. I really would. But, in all honesty, sometimes, he even takes the half-chewed food out of his mouth, places it on the floor, then puts it back in his mouth and finishes up. It’s like a dipping-sauce, the floor is. Ewww.
6. Entertain my baby with a TV-think again!Oh, I tried. I did. But the temptation is there…a big, giant TV and a remote that he, even at 1-year, can operate.  This goes for my smartphone as well, he even walks around these days with the phone to his ear.  Monkey see monkey do…
7. I’m going to make my own baby-food and never ever buy…I thought I’d be all industrious and make every drop of food that went in his mouth, from breastfeeding to baby-food, then on to big-people munchies. But no…even the breastfeeding was a bit of a flop. We bought formula often. This flowed into those cute little jars of food. I do however try most of the times rather to make than buy, but as you all know, life gets in the way.
8. I will never lose my patience.This is one that I really thought I’d stick to my guns on, but managed to mess-up within time. I had no idea how hard parenting a baby was. And add to it the struggles of work and everyday life…  I have stopped and cried. I have begged the baby to just be still while changing his diaper in an irrationally high-pitched voice. I have lost my patience and given-up on getting him into those too-cute-shoes…it happens.
9. He will not sleep in my bed-it’s just not safe!I don’t claim to be happy about this, but my son has slept in the bed with us on and off since birth. He had/has  quit a few immune and lung problems.  So just for everybody’s sanity and to make sure my husband and I could get up in the morning, he slept or should I say is still sleeping with us. It is an on-going battle.  I’m not proud of this one, but it’s my reality…
10. He will be off diapers and the bottle by one and or two…Well this one I am still struggling with hopefully by two I would have won this battle. But with him who just turned one a few weeks ago I do not see any of these changes in the near future.
11. Bonus point:  I will never tolerate a tantrum  Well this one I have yet to encounter but like all the rest of these points I just mentioned might not be as easy as I imagined…

So maybe I’m not the mom I thought I’d be. But like all the other moms out there who is doing their utmost best to keep all the balls in the air, I salute you.  It was always easy to criticize when I wasn’t in the same position but I have seen my mistake and mom I feel your pain.  And one last thing mom you are perfect, your child is wonderful and remember what you think might be your short comings might be what help another mom get through the day, don’t be so hard on yourselves.