By JO ABI
I had a grand vision of what kind of mother I’d be. I’d be firm but fair, steering my children with a perfect blend of wisdom and love. I’d be organised, supportive and, well, perfect really.
I never expected to be the kind of mum whose children regularly rolled their eyes at them. I never expected to become scattered and confused over which child needed to be wearing their sports uniforms on which days, or because I put their lunch boxes in the wrong bags, with the wrong flavour of chips.
But among the eye rolls and the sighs, I’ve realised that dropping the ball when it comes to parenting perfection is perfectly normal, and actually teaches resilience in your children…resilience being the word parents use to comfort themselves when they’ve stuffed up, of course.
Just as an FYI, you should know that this post is sponsored by Disney. But all opinions expressed by the author are 100% authentic and written in their own words.
When it comes to parenting fails, offences range from major to minor, funny to embarrassing, and everything in between.
Do any of these sound familiar?
1. Not unpacking my kid’s lunch boxes until the last day of the school holidays (and risking finding some nasty surprises).
2. Constantly mixing up sports uniform and normal uniform days.
3. Mixing up their lunch order. “I DON’T DRINK CHOCOLATE MILK MUM, ONLY PINK!”
4. Leaving my daughter’s curly hair unbrushed for so long that it had to all be cut off.
5. Forgetting to bring the Player of the Week trophy to the next game to be handed out to another child.
6. Buying all the vegies to puree and hide in their meals then never getting a chance to actually prep and puree it. “Kids, eat your rotten vegetables!”
7. Major dental work required on my first child due to poor oral hygiene learned from me.
8. Never keeping track of whogave which gift to my child and never thanking anyone for them aside from general, group thankyous.
9. ‘Borrowing’ money from my children’s bank accounts to pay bills then never paying it back in. But I’m going to, I swear.
10. Missing calls from the school about sick and injured children due to a flat phone battery.
11. Quitting the school P & F.
12. Never volunteering at the school tuckshop despite begging from both children.
