Mumsnet users share the parenting moments where they've wondered "Is it alright if…?" with O2

[JustineBMumsnet]

NOW CLOSED

Parenting isn’t easy. The pressures of daily life make it even trickier, never mind the ages of your children, or whether you're a stay-at-home mum or a working one. Anyone who's been stuck with a teen on a bad day or a toddler … on any day, will know that sometimes you just need to do whatever it takes to get by so you can hold onto your sanity for another day. Even if that means flexing your parenting methods from time to time.

Here’s what O2 has to say:
"#IsItAlright to let them use a tablet at breakfast? We hear you. Parenting is full of #IsItAlright questions, challenges and dilemmas. That’s why we’ve launched O2 Family, to bring advice, safety tools and kid-friendly offers to parents across the UK. We don’t pretend to have all the answers. But hopefully we make it a little easier to navigate the everyday messy magic of family life."

So what does it take to break you and make you question your parenting prowess? Do you tell your children carrots are good for night vision so they eat their veggies? Always carry a packet of sweets to use as a bargaining chip when you’re out and about? Or do you volunteer to be seeker so you can sit on the sofa, eating crisps and shouting "I'm coming to get you!" every three minutes…?

Share the moments you've wondered #isitalright if …? and what drove you to it with O2 to be in with the chance to win a £300 voucher for the store of your choice (from a list).

Thanks and good luck!

MNHQ

Standard Insight T&Cs apply

[PerfectlySymmetricalButtocks]

Right now.

#isitallrightif I let DD 10 join a discord server? I'm still deciding.

[ButterflyOfFreedom]

Is it alright... if I bribe the DC with biscuits to get them put their shoes on???!

(Not done often but it has been known!!)

[sunshinewithabitofdrizzle]

#isitalright if my dc has microwave ready meals for 3 nights in a row ? I've felt so guilty sometimes that I'm not feeding them fresh food everyday, but sometimes life gets in the way -or I'm feeling particularly lazy-.

[sharond101]

Is it alright for my 6 year old to play with 9 year old boys at football? Recently moved home & no kids his age.

[Caribbeanyesplease]

Is it alright if I beg my children to watch TV so I can sit in the kitchen on my phone with a cup of coffee in silence?!

[Grandadwasthatyou]

Is it alright to tell my dc that I'm doing important paperwork in the bedroom when I'm actually having a sneaky nap?
( they're not tiny by the way).

[Crazy3]

#isitalright if after a long, hot sweaty bad tempered walk home peppered with 3 kids bickering at the end of term, if I walk in, throw all bags, p.e. Kit, lunch boxes on floor next to where the kids have already dumped shoes, just to add to the obstacle course in the hallway. If I then continue to be unable to hear squabbles, hand out three tablets, three ice pops, and three bags of crisps, walk into the garden and quietly and triumphantly drink a LARGE Gin and tonic and pat myself on the back for not loosing the plot. (#yesitiswinningatlife.)

[peanutbutter310]

#isitalright to keep my kid quiet and sitting in their high chair with excess snacks when we go for meals out

[buckley1983]

#is it alright that I once bought several advent calendars to last not only through December, but also January, February, April & March. That little window of chocolate was such a motivator for my LO when he refused to comply with my requests to get ready each morning.
Oh the joy I felt when I found a bundle of advent calendars reduced to 50p in Poundland!
:)

[asuwere]

Isitalright that after a very long day of the DC squabbling over everything, I put the clock forward an hour so I could put them to bed earlier and have an extra hour of peace to myself :)

[FreshEyre]

At the moment... is it all right for my child to play Fortnite. And if it is all right how do I get him to come off in the middle of a game???

[sealight123]

#isitalright for us to change the topic when my 7 year old daughter asks what sex is.....

This happened when the song on the radio was 'Let's talk about Sex baby...'

Not quite prepared for that conversation yet!

[CecilyBlue]

#isitalright to let my 5 year old DS exist on a diet of spaghetti hoops, bananas and babybels with the occasional wotsit sandwich because I really can't take anymore of the constant battles over trying new foods!

[TheWizardofWas]

Is it alright if I don’t let my teenage daughter have a mobile phone, because I just know she will lose it? Made me panic though when we were separated during a terror attack.

[Sleepysausage]

After nightmare morning with DD i wondered #isitalright if I drive 30mins to IKEA and then lie about my child's age to leave her in the free crèche so I can drink free coffee in peace and stare at my phone for 45mins

[student26]

#isitallright to still have my daughter sleeping in my room with me? She is finally in her cot (after we co-slept for months) and her cot is next to me in bed. I just can’t bear the thought of her not in the same room as me just yet. She’s 13 and a half months old.

[Fanjango]

#isitalright that I choose my child's mental health over school attendance? Not a pleasant choice, and far from easy but, with the right help, refusing to go with the "they'll be fine once they are here" mantra can be hugely beneficial

[TARNYS]

#IsItAlright When I have had a hard long day with my Children aged 4&5 yrs. I tend to say it’s a later time than it really is. Etc For showers and bedtime.

Having pizza sitting on the blanket in the living room as a quick treat tea when everything has gone wrong.

Having snacks in my bag when we are out just in case.

The children won’t get ready quickly enough for school. You tell them you are going out the door now even if they are coming or not. Then pretending you can’t open the door to give them a few minutes to get shoes book bags etc.

[BasicUsername]

#isitalright to put my 8 month old in his jumperoo in front of BabyTV so I can make my house look presentable?!

[mustbemad17]

Mine atm is letting DS tummy sleep. Such a big no go for everyone, but it's the only way he will sleep. Already feeling the sleep deprivation!!

[Tefiti2]

#isitalrightif I bend the truth when my 4 y.o asks what testicles are for?! I’m not ready for this!!

[NauticalDisaster]

IS IT ALL RIGHT IF I POINT OUT THAT IT SHOULD BE ALL RIGHT NOT ALRIGHT?

[voyager50]

isitalright if I start telling him in August that Father Christmas won't come if he doesn't stop playing Minecraft and get ready to go out?

[joggingrunning]

Is it alright to tell them that if they eat their vegetables (especially spinach)they can be be strong and muscly like Popeye. #IsItAlright

[BevBrook]

Is it OK (see how I avoided the alright/ all right issue) if I let my children climb trees and other climby things partly to keep them quiet but mostly so they can learn how to manage risk.