I Am Honest

The truth is that I am not the best mum in the world... In fact, I haven't a compass which points towards true greatness. The needle spins about. So, I muddle through motherhood relying on feedback from the children and from Jon. Is that wrong? Probably.

Just when I thought I had done something fantastic and I was about to pat myself on the back and say "Good one Mum!"... that is when I hear negative feedback from one of the other children. So, perhaps you cannot make all of them happy all of the time. Is that it? I don't know... I am only asking the honest questions. Does anyone feel like they are a great parent? How do you do it?

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walabby · M

Don't know about great but I think that I've been adequate. My philosophy is to treat my kids like people. Explain why they are being punished, praise them for doing well, apologize when I make a mistake.
They all still seem to like me and the youngest is 21... :)

NewBecky · 51-55, F

@walabby I apologize when I make a mistake but it does not seem to matter... My children will keep a record of all wrongs...

Mum talks too much...
She does not talk enough...
She is in my business...
She does not care about me...
She does not let me eat anything yummy...
Let my hair grow longer...
When will you ever cut me hair?...
I'm stupid...
Do we have to study MORE???

walabby · M

@NewBecky Hey, pull rank. You're the boss here. Do what feels right to you. You do own your own conscience...
...

daveal · 56-60, M

@NewBecky Children need to show respect to their parents. That is non-negotiable. If they are disrespectful, then that must be addressed first, way before the issue that they are so worried about is dealt with.

People complain, the more immature a person is, the more they complain. By definition, children are immature people. Don't let their complaining dictate what you know to be true about yourself.