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Always feeling like I'm not getting it quite right

2 replies

PineappleBrazilNutsandMaccasFries · 05/01/2023 16:46

I come from an unhappy family, which provided little educational or emotional support and was overly strict, sometimes physically and emotionally abusive, so my barometer of good parenting may be a bit off...but does anyone else always feel like they should be doing MORE with their DC all the time?

We have 3- 5yo, 2yo and 4 mo. I'm currently on mat leave but likely to go back to work full time when the littlest is around 1.

The DC are all read to/with every day (recorded in school record book for 5yo)
5yo is supported to do his homework each week, and we spend the school run going over 'facts' he's been asked to learn at school and/or chatting about his day any friendship issues, funny stuff that's happened
We walk/bike/swim/bake/craft/host playdates with them on a very regular basis
They eat well 70% of the time but love a treat or a picky tea in front of the TV when they're knackered
We give them as much autonomy as we can, but we are definitely still the parents and in charge
We try to build in downtime too, as they're still so little they can get very tired.

I don't know why I'm writing this, but the 2 eldest are currently in front of screens while I cook them some tea- eldest doing some game where he's shaving Santas beard is laughing his head off about it and 2yo is zombified in front of Disney + after a full day of nursery and I feel kind of guilty that maybe we should have gone to the park/played in the garden/done something creative 🤔

I'm being ridiculous aren't I? They are allowed to slob out from time to time, and I am allowed to occasionally take the easy route?!?

OP posts:
Thatsasmashingblouseyouvegoton · 05/01/2023 16:54

Kindly, yes :)
Sounds like the perfect balance to me
You aren't your parents. You can break the cycle x

KangarooKenny · 05/01/2023 16:59

It sounds right to me. Kids like to have down time in front of the TV when they’ve had a busy day at school. It’s ok.

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