Another thread asking for you to share your parenting fails so that I feel less of a scummy mummy...

[ReanimatedSGB]

DS is 13. I am a single parent though DS' dad is very involved in his life and we are all on good terms.
DS was off school sick yesterday (nothing major, just a feverish cold, and was almost better - he has gone back to school today). I had to go to work in the evening so left him with a ready meal and his Wii U.

The electricity meter went off. (I hadn't realised how much DS was caning the little portable heater, I had topped the key up the day before). DS went to a neighbour to borrow a phone and call me, and promptly locked himself out - barefoot and in pyjamas. I didn't hear the call. Neighbours took him in and managed to get hold of his dad, who came over and collected him from the neighbours' house, but I am going to have to go and thank them and get stared at, aren't I?

No...! It's something that could happen to anyone OP! It happens to perfectly capable adults.

I once went to my neighbours to help him phone BT....he was elderly and couldn't cope with the multiple choice thing...then my door slammed. I had to get another neighbour to break in!

Tell DS to lay off the portable heater next time he's ill and stay in bed!

Don't beat yourself up, these things happen.

I'm 39 weeks pregnant, feel like absolute shit. The TV is more of a mother to my 2 year old than I am right now.

I realized after quizzing dh that we had not brushed ds's teeth for a day & a half .

Mine watch way too much tv'

I have spontaneously given mine the day off school (and me off work) because I am tired and wanted a lazy day

That's not even a parenting fail! He's 13 and was a bit of a Muppet and locked himself out. Not your fault.

I posted on here last night that dd missed her guide promise because I got time completely wrong. I am recovering from hand surgery so things are a bit hit and miss at the mo

He's a dumpling that went out in bare feet with a cold at this time of year

@Chapterandverse I'm sorry but that IS unreasonable, you have a duty to get your kids to school and I hope you haven't called in sick to work as that is hugely screwing over your employer if you're too lazy to go to work

busttrain are you serious??

Right op few life lessons for your son

1. pre payment keys have emergency fund. Just put the key in and it will click on.
2. if you pop out briefly either take a key or put the door on latch.

He is a teenagerand mad a rookie error it is not your fault.

I felt terrible the other week as my eight year went to school without breakfast. I laid it all out but didn’t remind him to help himself and he forgot thankfully they have fruit tuck shop at break.

I'm with butt outrageous to stay off work because you can't be bothered!

Sorry bustrain no idea why it corrected to butt!

DS is an only and spends way too much time with screens. Even when he's doing something else, he'll have the screen on in the background.

This is not the thread to be making judgements on though bustrain et al.

Judge silently if you must judge at all.

Not your fault he went barefoot and got locked out! You will have to say thank you but I’m sure they won’t stare

I have already had a chat with DS about wiggling the key for emergency credit... Mind you, at least I know that he a) has both my phone number and his dad's off by heart and b) remembered what had always been the rule about what to do if something goes wrong when he's alone: go to a neighbour.

His dad reckons he showed initiative and fortunately wasn't too put out at having to skip the Christmas party he was going to in order to collect DS...

@bust & Kinky....

I took a day holiday.... (But am at "screwing over" my employer)

The children are teenagers and had a week of exams last week.

So frankly I couldn't give a damn what anyone thinks

They will return to school (and I to work) tomorrow.

Least he was responsible OP.

My parenting failure had to be this weekend.

We went to winter wonderland in Hyde park. Poor Dd started getting hungry around 6 (her usual bed time) but because of the queues and busyness of London, didn't actually eat until 9!

Poor little sausage fell asleep with one hand inside her happy meal box. Felt very guilty but she's fine!

I dislike threads like this immensely, let's all congratulate ourselves on how crap we have been as parents. I totally get that we all have bad days and make mistakes but surely being proud of them and giggling away on here is just not right?

Princess nobody is congratulating anyone. Or giggling. Find something real to dislike immensely.

It's not about being proud of them. It's about realising that none of us are perfect parents and taking comfort from the fact that others aren't always on their best form either rather than beating ourselves up too much.

What oyster said. I’m not proud or giggling about the fact that I messed up last night. I feel awful that I forgot dds eventbut it’s hugely comforting to know that other parents have their moments at parenting too

Well if you booked a day off that's different but you didn't say that in your post

One of my 14 month old boys has spent at least 3 hours in front of CBeebies today. I am really sick and so is his twin brother, and he's been a little angel sitting and watching quietly between eating, changes and sleeping. I love him so much right now

Also, I frequently play Lady Gaga's Bad Romance video at them despite it being totally inappropriate because they are completely transfixed by it and it gives me time to make a coffee.

@Soubriquet
Poor little sausage fell asleep with one hand inside her happy meal box. Felt very guilty but she's fine!

This really made me LOL. Bless her 💕 haha.

Op it sounds like your DS was very sensible about the whole thing as you said going to a neighbour for help etc - we've all locked ourselves in at one point. It happens!!

OP do you pay for a landline? I know it's not the point of the thread, but if you have an active landline, get a very cheap (less than £10) plug in phone, which will work in an emergency when the power goes off, whether it is a power cut or your pre-paid electricity running out.

I'm not a parent, but I love the Scummy Mummies (was this the inspiration for your thread title?) and their Scummy Mummy confessions section, which is usually about things like forgotten nappies in handbags or feeding DCs custard for dinner because they forgot to get real food out of the freezer etc, but my scummy mummy of cats confession is that as I've noticed that they often eat any vomit or spilled food within minutes of the vomiting/spillage incident, I give them chance to do this before I think about cleaning it up.