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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask which mummy must-have skill are you rubbish at?

180 replies

mommabear12 · 15/04/2015 20:56

I can't bake a cake to save my life but every other mum seems to confidently knock up a perfect spongey masterpiece for any occasion!! When did they all learn this?!!!

OP posts:
dietcokeandwine · 15/04/2015 21:44

Day to day cooking. As in, the regular main meal. I'm a SAHM and should make far more effort but literally every day it gets to about 4.30 and I think 'bollocks, I've got to bloody well feed them.'

I obviously have to bloody well feed them every day but I hate the daily grind of it, am resistant to even the idea of meal planning and just serve up fairly-nutritious-but-dull meals every time.

Baking for special occasions I can do, main courses and puddings for special occasions I can do, but the daily grind of meal cooking makes me want to cry and run away.

meringue33 · 15/04/2015 21:45

Settling children to sleep. 2y4m and counting. DC2 due any day so it may be another 2-3y before I get a good sleep? FML Shock

WhoKnowsWhereTheTimeGoes · 15/04/2015 21:46

I can do all the practical stuff, baking, craft, hair styling, construction toys.

Absolutely crap at imaginary stuff, both play acting and storytelling. I read to them in my normal voice too, it was only when I came on MN I realised that some people do different voices for each character.

Also crap at watching their TV and films with them. Snuggle up on the sofa and watch a Disney film? No thanks, I'd rather use the time to go and clean the bathroom or similar.

crassula · 15/04/2015 21:49

I am rubbish at the day to day cooking too. My main aim is to get vitamins into my child, but I'm very aware that I'm not making food interesting or even particularly tasty. I base meals around their basic nutritional content and ease of preparation. I do try to counter this by teaching him about food through games and pictures, and hoping he'll develop an interest in it, but for me it's more a matter of just feeding him so he'll grow.

My mother is a super cook, and it is a huge part of her life. Didn't rub off on me - I'm the opposite. So I'm hoping my lack of interest in food won't rub off on my child.

molyholy · 15/04/2015 21:59

Another one here for imaginary play. I'm more than happy to play with dd and her lego, a game of Guess Who, yep up for that. I will happily read any number of books, but ask me to play a made up game of whatever and I physically sink into myself

Kennington · 15/04/2015 22:03

Baking
Arts and crafts
Buying toys- not a clue

elderflowergin · 15/04/2015 22:05

I can bake cakes and do all manner of hairstyles, however I can barely sew on a button so my mum sews on brownie badges for dd Blush
Whenever we get a letter home from school about dressing up and costumes my heart sinks and I have to ask my mum to help me

RusticBlush · 15/04/2015 22:06

Listening to them read - its painful sometimes. I get impatient and end up jumping in with 'weird & wonderful' voices for each character.
Dh looks at me like Hmm as he's so monotone.

HelenF350 · 15/04/2015 22:08

Not a mum yet, 10.5 weeks to go! I'm crap at cleaning and crafty stuff. Good at cooking though.

ImNameyChangey · 15/04/2015 22:08

Playdates. I HATE them. I'm antisocial and get nervous....cannot relax at all with someone elses' child in the house.

Board games. Cannot countenance them.

HelenF350 · 15/04/2015 22:09

Actually that's a lie, I am quite good at cleaning but rubbish at tidying (not the same thing imho).

BikeRunSki · 15/04/2015 22:10

Yep, imaginary play and patience.

I am ok at baking, cooking, sewing, buying toys and clothes etc, and have managed to have a DD who refuses to put anything in her hair. She has an ear length bob and a tangle teaser.

crassula · 15/04/2015 22:12

Helen, I am great a cleaning but rubbish at tidying. DS has picked up on this and compensates - he is constantly putting things in order and complaining about how I should stop cleaning so much. It all balances out quite nicely

BlinkAndMiss · 15/04/2015 22:14

Well I'm a crap cook, and it's not just the actual cooking I'm crap at it's the meal planning too. Most mums I know have a meal plan for each night - I tend to forget what time it is and have to throw something easy together. Bags of steamed veg are my friends :).

I'm also not great at getting DS to cooperate when out in public now he completely shuns the pushchair. I see other mums around the supermarket and their kids are wandering round with them or sitting in the trolley. Mine is usually swinging off my hair and screeching for chocolate that I've used as a bribe to get him to at least want to follow me around the shop.

I think there are lots of things I'm not very good at, but DS seems happy so I just try to focus on that :).

gabsdot45 · 15/04/2015 22:21

I hate playing with my kids, I can do board games or cards and I like reading to them but I find playing dollies or teddies or anything like that mind crushingly boring.

Rivercam · 15/04/2015 22:28

Parks - found them boring
Hair/plaits - thank goodness I have boys!
The offside rule - despite dis explaining it to me

buffythemuffinslayer · 15/04/2015 22:30

I'm also not very good at imaginary play - DS likes unstructured mind-palace type stuff. I prefer painting, drawing, snap, baking. Which DS will do, but for 30 minutes apiece only.

But I've learned to live with it. I am now an excellent dragon/villain/nemesis/troll. Although I never carry on for quite as long as DS would like i.e. FOREVER.

Marmaladedandelions · 15/04/2015 22:33

I can't do imaginary play either. I am terrible for talking to babies as if they understand me - a cross 'just a MINUTE!' Hmm and I can be snappy when I'm downtrodden generally, another rubbish hairdresser!

I am great at: explaining the world and helping them understand it and at answering difficult questions honestly and compassionately.

iwanttogotothechaletschool · 15/04/2015 22:44

I find watching my son playing football mind numbingly boring, I either yawn my way through it or bring a book.

I also have no patience for board games and will cheat in order to bring them to a faster conclusion.

I am good at making up stories, imaginary play, baking and crafts but quite often don't have the patience to do them.

elQuintoConyo · 15/04/2015 22:47

I'm not good at being 'yummy' (hate the term, too).

I'm not very good at being more mature than my 3yo chasing him on his bike and down the slide and trying to boing him off the seesaw

I'm not very good at running 3cm behind him wherever he goes just in case he falls/cries/gets a booboo, my precious snowflake.

I'm not very good at bathing him (twice a week, tops).

I'm not very good at many things. Neither is DH.

PrettyPenguin · 15/04/2015 22:49

I am crap at: patience, going to the park and pushing them on swings etc (only one child left now that can't swing himself, thank Christ!), having other people's kids here. I find it really hard to summon up the will to be that enthusiastic, cheerful, 'nothing is too much trouble' sort of mum that all my DDs' friends' mums seem to be!

I am good at: baking (and all my kids love to bake too), building dens, fancy hairstyles, messy play and singing along loudly to all the kids' CDs in the car Grin

Marmaladedandelions · 15/04/2015 22:50

Quinto but you sound like a hilarious parent Grin

dashoflime · 15/04/2015 22:51

I cannot for the life of me adequately wind a baby. Mine just have to suffer until their digestive systems mature.

I cannot do a convincing "cross face" or stern voice. I pretend to tell them off and they pretend to listen to me.

thatsn0tmyname · 15/04/2015 22:52

Patience!

Marmaladedandelions · 15/04/2015 22:52

I often threaten some ridiculous, exaggerated punishment - if you slam that door ONE more time, you will have to stay outside FOREVER!

Wtf! Hmm

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