What are your parenting hot takes?

[LimeAnt]

No arguments, please, just genuine interest.

Mine? You are not, and you shouldn't want to be, your child's best friend.

Don't talk non-stop about your kids. They are really boring to everyone but you. And possibly granny.

What’s a hot take?

Yes when you have a child it is a big effort and you are supposed to put them first. Yes other parts of your life will suffer. No you should not be expected to throw them in their room and expect 12 hours interrupted sleep every night and no they shouldn’t just been seen and not heard all day and yes it will disrupt your career and you will have to spend time with them.

Never say never.
You may have your own preference and choices, but your kids will make you like like a twat everytime.
"We won't have dummies "
They'll never eat sugar"
"They'll sleep when we want them to"
"Don't give them green beans, Granny, they don't like them".
Just go with the flow and roll with the punches.

Have a life outside of your kids and don’t assume everyone else gives a shit or is interested in them.

Another one is expecting school to be childcare. No. School is their education. You deal with childcare outside of school just like
you have done for the previous 4+ years.

My child started reception recently and I heard mums complaining about the fact that they needed a staggered start (I’m talking literally two mornings before full days) and how it should be illegal and all this crap, even though that’s the best thing for the children. That’s why they do it. All these exhausted kids wetting themselves and not coping but oh no it’s inconvenient. 😳 Yes you will need to use up your annual leave or get a childminder ffs.

Don't brag about them.
Dh's friend's wife does this about her two girls who are late teens so l avoid her like the plague now.

Children change your life, entirely. If you’re doing it right.

Exactly. Do it properly or be childfree. It’s a valid option.

I've also never heard of this. Is it a tik tok thing? I feel old

You are allowed a life outside of being a mother. You can have a fulfilling career, you can go on holiday with friends and you can also enjoy hobbies. You’ll be a better mother for it.

A saucy, likely offensive, off the cuff opinion. Ie ‘Just telling it like it is’.

Children lie and yours will too.
Because they're not reliable witnesses.

Sleep training is the best thing I did.

Having kids isn’t an achievement. Raising them to be good people is.

You will probably lock yourself in the bathroom to have a cry at some point.

Don't become friends with your children's friends. You are now "part of the crew", you are a parent. I've seen this go wrong so many times and strain parent /child relationships

Not I mean

Mine? You are not, and you shouldn't want to be, your child's best friend.

I have never tried to be their best friend; I have however consciously not made myself the enemy either, so I guess that's my hot take.

You can't have it all it's not mentally or physically possible telling yourself otherwise is just foolish. Something or someone is always going to more priority and it should be your kids. They didn't choose you you chose them.

Hell yes.

Whilst I agree school is education, not childcare, staggered starts in reception are a pain in the butt. As a teacher I'm not able to take holiday, and I'm pretty sure parents would be annoyed if I wasn't there to teach their children. I couldn't send her to nursery and there's no chance I'd be able to get a childminder just for a week. It was a stressful week of juggling and calling on lots of favours, and tbh I probably did have a moan at the inconvenience!

I get that it’s annoying and don’t mind the odd moan within reason. I think I was sat with some really rude entitled mums 🙈

TBH putting myself last after 39 years of putting myself first has been the best and most rewarding thing I've ever done.

The problem isn't the staggered starts, it's that they only tell you about a month beforehand at which point many, many employers simply refuse annual leave as it's too late to book holiday.