What bad parenting habits have you got into that you don't like admitting to?

[luckiestgirlintheworld]

Get it off your chest! No judgement here.

I let DS (18 months) watch/play with the iPad during most meals as it makes mealtimes so much easier.

...

Way too much TV for DS 4. Pre-School days are better as it's restricted to an hour after school.

But on weekends and hols it's a free for all. We use it as babysitter on weekends so we can get a lie in and the again in the afternoon so some days he has 3 hrs of TV. That's pretty bad. He watched NO tv until he was around 2. I was so going to be one of those amazing parents. Er not any more

Also hardly any vegetables for meals. Peas and corn is the staple and that's about it. I feel massive guilt over this one and do try now and again but have mostly given up

DS watches iPad during meals too. The rule is if anyone else is sitting down it's not allowed, but I wouldn't expect to sit down to lunch on my own without a book/TV/phone so I don't think he should either. He gets plenty of screen free meals too.

Leaving the kitchen/sitting room in a right mess some nights because DH and I are just So Damn Tired. I hate it, we really need to snap out of it.

Late for nursery. Ditto.

I have my son and toddler ready for school half an hour before we leave and then sit them in front of the TV in coats and shoes etc with "Breakfast Biscuits" until its time to go. Its a brilliant but shameful morning routine.

Isn't it funny how guilt laden we all are about TV? We didn't even have a TV for my eldest's first couple of years. We are a much less uptight family now. I try not to worry about it.

FWIW I think there are worse things to do than let your children watch nursery rhymes on Youtube, my DS(2) is now word perfect with traditional and contemporary rhymes and loves nothing better than singing to/with me and DH. I love it.

• Juice - but cutting it out now ( in return for a weekly prize if they drink only milk or water)

• Which brings me on to the second item - bribery!

• Also once a week I have a long day away from them with work and get back just as they are going to bed. I always bring them a small present (e.g. lego mini figure each) on this day, now they expect it and indeed my little one can be demanding about it. Fully aware I am assuaging my guilt through material means, and that they don't want presents they want me! Never mind, its not a cardinal sin in the grand scheme. I can't stop doing it as I can't bear the thought of their disappointment though.

Also letting son watch CBeebies after lunch until time to go and get his sister. Mind you he has been at nursery all morning so he is tired, but I am also aware that if I were a really GOOD PARENT I would cuddle up to him and read him a story

Oh yes, letting them eat their tea upstairs in front of the TV because I can't be bothered to battle to persuade my little one to come down ...

There are loads more!

Letting him watch TV with me. My 7 year old knows the words to all of the episodes of friends and loves the big bang theory, chuck and greys anatomy drew the line when I was watching dexter

Can I ask those that have kids tv on a lot, doesn't the wingy whinny CBeebies type stuff drive you potty listening to it all day?

This is interesting. Apparently the only socially acceptable "bad parenting" activities are screens and sleeping. With a little bit of food in there.

There seem to be plenty more from my lofty pedestal but people clearly don't admit it.

Sometimes Mr Tumble/Gigglebiz will be on in my house all day. DS has all the dvds and knows how to turn on the DVD player and press play. Tbh I don't mind, he has such a wide vocabulary and can also sign which I'm so proud of. He also says please and thank you 90% of the time which is down to hearing it from Mr Tumble. Of course I've tried to teach him things but it seems to work better with tv.

I give smoothies instead of fruit because ds hates the texture and also give hidden veg sauce in meals as he doesn't like the taste of veg either.. That's what upsets me the most is his eating. He's so fussy.

On the other hand though his bedtime routine is amazing. Self settled with a book from 7pm till 7-8am. Enjoys brushing his teeth etc.

Crap at tooth brushing. Crap at getting them in the bath, twice a week tops. Sugary cereal. Sleeping with lights on. Musical beds at night, nearly 5 year old still isn't dry at night, and also takes off his pants and screams when things don't go his way. Four year old threatens to bite people AND gives them a count-down warning! Five year old shouts ALL THE TIME, four year old will only wear clothes with glitter on (he's a boy) and 6 year old has started shouting "Sploody heck" at first sign of frustration.
We are on first name terms with the drive through staff at McDonald's and in Morrisobs the other night, all three of them started shouting "mummy you've forgotten your wine"

I hadn't. I get it delivered by the case these days.

I would give ds the iPad to watch things on but he tends to throw things and I'm not having that broken!

He still has a night light musical elephant on.

He has milk before bed. Still in a bottle.

I think nowadays with the different stresses/situations we have to face, we do what we can to get by.

Oh I have to bribe ds with a drink and a biscuit when doing the food shop or else he's a nightmare and screams/kicks.

Francoitalialan

DC3 only knows his tables with sweets/chocolates as a reward - focuses the mind

Poocatcher all right then I confess that I am guilty of saying 'no. No. No you can't. No. Oh all right then for God's sake!'

Is that the kind of thing you meant?

Funny how is tv/iPad the common theme! Imagine before the existed (or before kids tv channels existed anyway). I'd die!!

My guilt is funnily enough also tv. Usually an hour every evening and on weekends...god sometimes 4 hours in a day which is just so much more than I'd aimed for. Kids are 1 and 3

Oh poocatcher I can think of lots more. I sometimes leave the babies wet nappy for an extra hour or two as long as it's not leaking if I'm busy. Only with wet nappies not poo. He doesn't have nappy rash and never seems distressed. Also give DS1 (3.7) way more sweet treats than he should but he's like a beanpole and races around all the time, so it's easy to justify on an energy demand basis.

Like greenstone we often don't tidy up in the evening although I don't really feel guilt about that.

Ditto to the evening mess. It's enough to actually make/eat tea after the bath/bed battle routine some evenings.

Nursery rhymes/Baby Einstein videos on Youtube. DH bought a new TV relatively recently and it has a Youtube app on it. I am very thankful for that or I'd never eat a meal still manage biscuits somehow or get anything done when in the house with DD.

We pretty much only change poo nappies with DS2 . He has never had nappy rash.

I sometimes tell DS1 to go ask his Dad rather than say no to something so I don't have to be the bad guy.

Pre-DC, I already liked the "pick your battles" idea but hadn't realised quite how many battles there would be & how few of them I would pick! DC2 is a stubborn so-and-so, way more so than me. DC1's longest stand off/tantrum was about 30 minutes, DR'S can last several hours and would have continued for me had I not backed down.
I am appalled at how competitive I am. I try to hide it but I love to overhear titbits of information about book levels or spelling tests & feel proud if DC1 is doing better than that and panic if she is not doing so well. I had planned on being much more zen about this sort of thing!

Oh Iheartjoshcharles I do that too re not wanting to say no.

Also, there are some weeks where DS1 will have baked beans nearly every single day.

And, I have never persevered with him eating wholesome cucumber batons like most parents seem to give. He'll do carrots, grape, apple and that's enough for me. Cucumber is a pointless food if you ask me, zero nutrition, it's just like old tasting water!

Mine are out of nappies now apart from wee night ones, but when they were, and DH was pissing me off, I'd lean a nappy-bum into his face and say "is that a poo one? I can't tell!" And then delight in him taking in a good lung full of shite-stink! He fell for it EVERY time, and I'm still laughing now!

I'm terrible for saying 'five minutes', as in dinner ready in, bath time in etc. I used to do it when the older DCs were small but I started doing it again recently with DS 8 months.

Much more fun thanks! I do the no no no yes too plant