Surfire Things Kids Say to Get Your Parenthood Guilt-Goat
Cate as her pirate alter-ego, One-Eyed Jan, ready to defend her booty.
What the adorable offspring said:
“Mommy, why don’t you do something with me? All you ever do in Denmark is chores and work on the computer. And now all you are doing on our vacation is the computer!”
What actually happened the preceeding three weeks, when I did plenty of chores, but DID NOT WORK AT ALL.:
- trips to the homemade ice cream place
- daily swims in the ocean
-not one, not two, but three birthday celebrations
-kayaking by moonlight to watch fireworks explode over the Puget Sound
-letting the children swim–fully clothed– at 10pm
-tie-dying 7 kidlet t-shirts
-massive pirate-hunt with real buried treasure
-Eatin’ Eyeball hunt with a toy surprise in the pack
-approximately one million breakfasts, second breakfasts, lunches, snacks, dinners, and desserts
-4,000 tolerant hours of Sponge Bob Square Pants, ICarly and SYTYCDance
-numerous convertible rides
-making dreamboard collages with the cousins
-kite flying….
There’s more, but I forget. Still, I felt totally guilty for several hours while I tip tapped typed away that day. Oh those blue eyes, they are deadly.
What kid tactic really gets your parenting guilt goat? Tell us (and how you combat it) in the comments below. “Ain’t nobody going anywhere but together!”
4 comments
The whine…. The incessant, incompatible whine of ‘mooooooom, puhleeeeaaase.’.
It’s my kryptonite.
Ezra just turned two and his favorite thing that just gets me is, “Mama that makes me SOO sad and upset” (insert adorable curly haired boy with sad basset hound face). I generally go through the day playing the back and forth game, “One load of dishes-two short books, two emails answered-one session of pirate play, etc. etc. I make sure I give him my undivided attention so later when I am on facebook I don’t feel guilty when I have to say, “This is Mama time”:)
Having just kissed fond farewell to two of my grandchildren who have been visiting for just 3 days – your post has me smiling. You current day Moms are up to your eyeballs in life and take such good care of your children in the midst of all else, it amazes me! I had my kids when I was very young and sort of grew up with them……..I know I did a lot for them but as I repeat – your all do so much!!!!! Anyway, the line of the week from my 4 year old grandson’s lips – WHILE eating an ice cream cone with me, his Mom, and 9 year old sis – I want a lollipop. Mother’s reply was that we were having ice cream and that we would have the lollipop another day, whereupon he absolutely did NOT want the ice cream but insisted on the lollipop – complete with loud demanding demands. My daughter went around the small table and asked him to please look at her, NO, gently (and I mean gently compared to what I would have done) she said, please listen to me, no lollipop today, finish your ice cream. Whereupon, the shrieked and announced to the store – “You’re hurting me!!!!” It was laughable but I didn’t. I’ve noticed this particular guilt producer from young children lately – it’s as though they know their children’s rights laws and if they announce a parent is “hurting” them, the parent will immediately be whisked off to a child beater prison. Proud of my daughter, she stuck to her guns, we left the store – no lollipop and the 4 year old huffily digested the moment and I’m quite sure, planned his next tactic for another day as this one seemed to have fallen on deaf ears! Long story from me – keep up the good work Moms – you are terrific and all up for sainthood in my books!!!!!
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