Parenting is a journey filled with challenges, and I strive to raise my kids to be respectful and considerate individuals. I emphasize the importance of basic manners, like holding doors for others, picking up after themselves, and saying “please” and “thank you.” I aim to model these behaviors, but as my kids grow older, it’s becoming increasingly difficult to maintain my facade. So, am I a hypocritical mother? Absolutely. Here are six ways I embrace that reality.
1. Cookie Dough Dilemma
I often tell my kids, “No cookie dough for you! It has raw eggs, and you could get sick.” In truth, I’m just hoarding all the cookie dough for myself. I need enough to bake cookies for the week and enjoy the pleasure of licking the bowl clean—my guilty secret!
2. The Honesty Paradox
I preach the importance of honesty, insisting that lying is unacceptable. However, when my kids’ doctor inquires about their screen time or vegetable intake, I encourage them to let me handle the answering. “Let’s keep some info to ourselves,” I say, particularly when we’re with the health-conscious moms. It’s not really lying, right?
3. Curse Word Slip-Ups
I tell my children that bad words have no place in our home. Yet, when we found ourselves in a questionable motel during a storm, my stress got the best of me. When inappropriate content flashed on the TV, I exclaimed, “Get me out of this whore hole!”—a phrase that they gleefully echoed for the rest of the trip. And yes, I still mutter a few choice words when I step on a Lego.
4. Screen Time Rules
I often lecture my kids about limiting screen time, but when the chaos of a road trip ensues, I sometimes allow them to zone out on their devices. It’s a double standard, but it keeps the peace in the car. Meanwhile, I’m glued to Pinterest, ignoring my own advice.
5. Manners Matter… Sort Of
I’m constantly correcting my kids about table manners and hygiene. They drink from the faucet and wipe their faces on their shirts, which drives me crazy. Yet, they catch me indulging in a slice of cake while hunched over the sink, acting like it’s my last meal.
6. Dress Code Confusion
I insist that my children look presentable when we go out, but I’m often found in my sweaty workout gear while writing this article. I tell them, “You need to look nice for public outings,” while I wear my unkempt attire, feeling a tad hypocritical.
So, will I change my behavior to set a better example for my kids? Probably not. I like the saying, “Do as I say, not as I do,” and I think I’ll stick with that.
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Summary
In a humorous take on parenting, I reveal the everyday contradictions of being a mother. From indulging in cookie dough to navigating honest conversations, I embrace my hypocritical tendencies while striving to teach my children valuable lessons. Parenting may be full of double standards, but it’s all part of the journey.