Have you made a poor parenting decision

[RosieLeaLovesTea]

I think I made a poor parenting decision this week. So I am kicking myself. Can any of you understand? How to get over the guilt?

I've made a few to be honest. Is it something you could make right?

What poor parenting decision do you feel like you've made, OP? If you feel able to be more specific, we can give better advice or reassurance.

I've made mistakes as a parent, absolutely. I grew up in a very dysfunctional family with parents who should never really have been parents, so my aim when I make a mistake is to do the opposite of what they did - I own it, apologise for it, try and correct it, and then move forwards. Making a bad parenting decision doesn't make you a bad parent.

Oh definitely. We have all got things wrong.

I’m a pretty good parent but most days I do something which I think I could have done better. You live and learn.

I am guessing from your level of concern it’s some thing which will have a lasting impact?

Of course. But there are levels. Do you want to talk about it, OP?

The choice of their Father was a huge mistake.

Yep, but I believe that parenting is a constant evolution and we're all learning as we go. No one is perfect. Hopefully whatever you have decided can be discussed with your children?

So many. The biggies were waiting until the end of Y8 to move DD from a rubbish secondary where she was unhappy and then thinking she was coping admirably with the pressure of 11 GCSE's and then finding out she had been masking and cutting herself.

Yeah of course. And we are inevitably harsher on ourselves than on anyone else

With little things, I think 'Oh well, never mind, it's done now'.

Looking back on any bigger decisions I've made that I think, if I could rewind life I might choose differently, I reassure myself with the fact that I had to make a decision at the time, and I can hand on heart say I always did my best to try to get things right, and that doing our best in the moment is the best we can expect from anyone.

Great username

Likewise

Oh God I've made loads.

And when I knew I'd made a mistake, I did what I could to rectify it.

Do whatever you can to minimise the damage and move on.

Trust me, they'll be another situation along again soon!