The Top 3 Things I Hate to Admit as a Parent

As parents, we all have a handful of mistakes we are ashamed to admit. But in reality, parents are only human and are bound to err occasionally. I strongly feel the best parents aren't those who pretend they are perfect but those who willingly admit when they're wrong and learn from their parenting missteps. With two young children of my own, I am no stranger to the disasters that can erupt from the tiniest of errors. Thus, I wish to share my top 3 parenting mistakes, as well as some tips on how you might avoid the same parenting pitfalls.

Parenting Mistake #1: Leaving Newborn Alone With Jealous Sibling

Parents never wish to think ill of their children. With such cuteness it's sometimes easy to forget the mischief and raw emotion that can surface when backs are turned. When my daughter was born my sweet little baby boy wasn't even 16 months old. And with this change, his sweet disposition turned sour.
He was jealous of his baby sister from the start, one minute trying to push her out of my lap and then smacking her with toys in the next. I knew immediately that I'd have to be careful as he processed this transition. Yet, until he managed to knock over her bassinet while she was sleeping, I didn't realize how dangerous a jealous sibling could be. Consequently, if you will soon be welcoming another baby, please keep in mind your other children might not be so enthusiastic. Remember that your older children may feel left out or replaced. So find ways to make them feel special again and give them one-on-one attention to show they are still loved and important.

Parenting Mistake #2: Fostering the Picky-Eater Monster

With my firstborn, I never once had to worry about pickiness. Put something edible in front of him and it seemed to vanish instantly. Not so with my little princess. Each day there was something new that she now hated. I wanted her to eat healthy and to learn to love a variety of foods. However, each time those beautiful eyes filled with tears and her little lip would start to quiver, my heart ached and I'd give in. Once her diet consisted mainly of hotdogs, cereal, fruit, and crackers, though, I decided something must be done. Instead of catering to her, I'd make meals that included one of her favorites along side small portions of the rest of our family's menu. I set up a "3-spoon rule." If it wasn't something she liked, she only had to finish 3 spoonfuls. Amazingly, as she realized she had to try everything, more and more of her meals would disappear.

Parenting Mistake #3: Letting Anger Cloud My Judgment

Perhaps the mistake I most regret is letting my anger cloud my judgment with my children. A whole bottle of syrup on the cat, a masterpiece in permanent maker on the wall, or a double roll of toilet paper clogged in the toilet are enough to make any parent cringe. Nevertheless, how we parents handle these nightmarish situations is what matters the most. Our first response is often complete anger and disbelief. We wonder where we have gone wrong as parents and what could possess our children to act so badly. And we often take out our own doubts and fears on our little ones without considering the consequences. I have been blessed with two extremely creative and adventurous children and thus, very little mischief can still shock me. But on those rare occasions when they still surprise me, I have learned that timeouts are just as important for parents as for children. If you feel overwhelmed or enraged by your children's behavior, separate yourself from the situation until you are calm and collected. The last couple years of my life have emphasized that children listen much better when we coolly and clearly explain why we disapprove of their behavior.