Before I became a parent, I often found myself judging other families, assuming that misbehavior or rudeness in kids must stem from poor parenting. Now that I’m navigating the parenting journey myself, I’ve realized that many of these behaviors are simply part of childhood, and even the best parents can be caught off guard. Here are ten things I used to think were signs of bad parenting, and what I’ve learned since then.
- Tantrums: I once believed that parents could easily prevent toddlers from throwing tantrums. But in reality, it’s like trying to halt a runaway freight train. When a toddler is in the throes of a meltdown, all you can do is brace yourself and ride it out. Calming words? They might as well be whispers in a hurricane.
- Whining: I can’t even count how many times I’ve told my kids, “Please stop whining; I can’t understand you!” Apparently, kids don’t whine to get what they want; they do it because they find the sound amusing. Thanks, cartoon characters, for that little gem.
- Ignoring Conversations: Despite our best efforts to teach manners, two of my children have mastered the art of selective hearing. One thinks she’s responding in her mind, while the other just opts for silence unless he has a witty comeback. Shyness? More like a stealth mode of communication.
- Sleepless Nights: Sometimes our youngest can lie awake for what feels like an eternity—two and a half hours, to be exact—talking to himself or calling out that he’s still awake. No amount of running around during the day or soothing bedtime rituals seems to help. He’s simply a night owl.
- Volume Control: Some kids just don’t get the concept of volume. Their voices could rival a rock concert, and even their whispers seem to echo. Short of investing in earplugs, there’s not much you can do about this phenomenon.
- Little White Lies: I used to think my kids would always tell the truth, but I quickly learned that fibbing is a rite of passage. One child, who is naturally honest, was shocked when she heard her sibling spin a tale. Apparently, lying is a sign of intelligence, or so I tell myself to avoid panicking.
- Nose Picking: It seems like every kid goes through a phase of nose-picking, regardless of how often you remind them about hygiene. It’s a battle that seems to last forever, and you’ll often catch them just sitting there, finger lodged in their nostril. Gross, but true.
- Handwashing After Bathroom Breaks: We instilled the importance of handwashing as part of potty training, yet it took years for them to remember this on their own. I’ve become an expert in detecting unwashed hands, unfortunately.
- Chewing with Their Mouths Open: The classic “chew with your mouth closed” battle is one I never expected to face. No matter how many times I remind them, the chomping continues. It’s as if they’re in a competition to see how loud they can eat.
- All the Other Gross Stuff: Recently, I walked into the kitchen and found my older child’s dirty socks on the counter. I was left speechless. And that’s not even the worst! Imagine the time our 5-year-old decided to lick every handrail at a theme park. I’m not a germaphobe, but that one made me cringe.
Do we teach our kids these behaviors? Not intentionally. Are they influenced by peers? Possibly. Do we try our best to instill good habits? Absolutely. But let’s face it—raising well-behaved kids is a marathon, not a sprint.
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In summary, parenting is a wild ride filled with unexpected moments, and it’s important to remember that every child is unique. We can do our best to teach them right from wrong, but sometimes, they’re just being kids.
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