As a mother, I strive to raise kind and respectful children. I emphasize the importance of manners, empathy, and social graces—like holding doors open for others and picking up after themselves. I believe in leading by example, but as my kids grow older, they’re starting to see the cracks in my façade. Here are a few ways I find myself being a hypocritical parent:
- Cookie Dough Dilemma: I forbid my kids from eating raw cookie dough, telling them it’s unsafe due to raw eggs. In reality, I want to ensure there’s enough dough left for me to enjoy straight from the bowl. It’s a guilty pleasure I’m not ready to share!
- Truth vs. Tact: I constantly preach honesty, but when the pediatrician asks about their screen time or vegetable intake, I might encourage them to keep certain truths to ourselves. It’s not lying; it’s just strategic communication, especially when we’re around health-conscious friends.
- Colorful Vocabulary: I tell my kids that swearing is unacceptable, yet there are moments when frustration gets the best of me. Take the time we stayed in a less-than-ideal motel. When a surprise adult film flashed on the TV, my instinctive exclamation was far from family-friendly. Of course, I begged them to keep that one to themselves.
- Screen Time Rules: I often emphasize the dangers of excessive screen time, yet I’ve been known to hand my kids a device just to keep the peace during long car rides. While I lecture them about outdoor play, I find myself pinning ideas on Pinterest for hours.
- Manners Matter: I insist on good table manners and proper etiquette, but I’ve been caught indulging in chocolate cake while standing over the sink, completely disregarding the rules I impose on them. The battle for proper conduct feels endless, especially when they seem to relish every opportunity to test my patience.
- Dressing Up: I often tell my children they should look presentable when we go out, yet I’m often found in my sweaty workout clothes, typing away after a long run. I encourage them to look their best, even as I embrace my casual, post-exercise state.
Will I change my ways to be a better role model? Probably not! I resonate with the saying, “Do as I say, not as I do.” It seems to be the mantra of many parents, including myself. For more insights into parenting and home insemination, you can check out this informative blog post on privacy policy here, or learn more about home insemination kits from Make A Mom and excellent resources for pregnancy and home insemination at Hopkins Medicine.
In summary, parenting is a balancing act of teaching values while sometimes falling short of those very lessons. It’s a wild ride filled with contradictions, but it’s all part of the journey.