What are you good at as a mum?

[Geekster]

At our baby club this week they asked an interesting question. What mum stuff are you good at. As we all spend time beating ourselves up about what we are not good at. I think I'm good at being daft with my dd and very patient. What are you good at?

Ooh also assertiveness, DD1 is quite shy so I try to show her how not to be worried about random people and situations that stress her out. She internalises it and then asks me about it a week later having stewed. DD2 has no problem with assertiveness....

I'm good at always being there for them, even though they are all grown up.

DH and I are complementary parents, he is good at 'adventures' and playing with them and especially good at cooking with them (which is slightly annoying since I'm the better cook but he is very much about the process which they love!). I'm good at books and arts and crafts and being the reliable consistent one but since I'm pregnant and knackered I'm currently the one who is really good at letting them play by themselves while I catch a sneaky 40 winks.

Shouting.

Having realistic expectations.

Diffusing difficult situations.

Having horrendous health/sleep and still being amicable not taking it out on the kiddies

Well done lastnerve that is soooo hard to do. I might try a bit harder at that.

im a good referee with 3 dcs and dh. i am fair, listen and am patient. i can do silly voices and make up my own stories. i have cuddles for every occasion.

I think I'm good at being patient and I hope I'm good at instilling self confidence.

I think I'm quite good with discipline - firm but fair, and consistent.

I do have some anxieties but I am not a helicopter parent, I let my children take risks and try not to let my fears rub off on them, and they are very brave and strong.

Mostly though, I kick arse at cuddles and kisses :) my children are never short of them and are affectionate themselves. Makes me melt when I seem them together. Both DH and I had shit childhoods with lots of abuse so it is very important for our children to feel loved, and they certainly do.

I am crap at many other aspects and do tend to dwell on those so thank you for this thread :)

Encouraging independence also known as being a lazy mum .

motherinferior

I am good at bigging my kids up. If someone says something negative to them (other kids I mean) they certainly don't take it to heart by the time I have finished. I think they have pretty high self esteem anyway. My Mum meant well but always wanted me to "confront" kids that were mean to me. I help my kids to brush off nastiness and see it as unimportant. They are Teflon kids!

Oreocrumbs one if the mw's whilst I was in hospital having dd2 said to dd1 who was always asking "why?" said because Y has a curly tail! It is now my standard response....

'Well done lastnerve that is soooo hard to do. I might try a bit harder at that.'

Its a new development I just take it out on DP instead

I am really good at doing stuff with DS, like reading, swimming, going to the park type stuff. I'm also really good at giving him lots of love and affection, and kissing better.

DH is really good at football/ cycling type stuff, and is more fun than I am. I think it's a nice balance.

Ooh I thought of one!

I'm the only mum I know doing BLW and I have endless patience with him, and it's going really well if somewhat messily. He loves mealtimes almost as much as baths now

Making sure they eat healthy food.
Reading to them, enjoyment of books.
Teaching them about the big wide world, they watch the news.
Dealing with sick bugs, I'm unusually patient when they're ill.
Telling them to brush themselves down, have another go and not be scared of things.

at lastnerve good plan, must also do that!!!!

Skipping/gallopping/dancing down the supermarket aisle to deflect toddler meltdown.

Providing a running commentary on anything and everything.

But time will tell since DD is only 18 months old.

1. Cuddles
2. Being a bed (my 5 year old DS still comes into our bed most mornings and lies on top of me and often falls asleep - I sometimes wonder at what age I would begin to think it was inappropriate - but suspect he'll decide that before I do!)
3. Remembering to buy presents for their friends birthdays / send forms to school / organise their birthday parties / feed them [yes, that is me moaning about what DH isn't good at!]
4. Baking with them and not caring about the mess.
5. Teaching them to behave well when at other people's houses (even if it doesn't work so well at home).

Reading stories is one of mine. I do rock the funny voices. Get a bit of a sore throat sometimes!

I'm diligent and kind of adequate at everything but not that amazing in any field (unless play fighting counts) I think I'll be better when they're older tbh. Dh is probably the more natural toddler parent.

Providing good healthy food for the most part.
Being silly and having fun, playing lots.
Crafty activities.
Being strict without horrible and installing good manners.
Educating as we go (I get the piss ripped by my Dsis at times but nicely! I prob overdo it!)

Not so hot on not losing my patience, dealing with messy play or eating, being tired and cheerful. There are many other shortcomings I expect but I am happy with the good list for now (they are 3.9 & 1).

I am good at making things o.k. for them.

Also talking, don't do taboos, boys are 7 and 10 and we have chatted about sex, war, how you know if you are gay, mental health, fatness/thinness, tingling feelings in your willy , anything really.

I'll remember that one PepperPig, although I suspect it will be followed with "but why does it have a curly tail?" - I shall say you said so.

I do all the voices in the stories properly.
I know all the words to the songs (and I do the actions).
I can predict carsickness before it happens and can catch sick in my hands while car is moving.