Parenting words of wisdom/mantras!

[TunaJacket]

Parenting is HARD! sometimes we forget just how blessed we are.

I read some advice for dealing with the difficult times in parenting and that was to imagine you are 80, with a time machine, and you have been sent back to this exact moment to spend with your kids again.
Not going to say it always works but it has helped me put the situation in perspective some times.

Thought it might be nice to start a thread of those sayings and mantras we tell ourselves to get us through the day to help each other!

Whats yours?

Whenever it’s all going a bit wrong, and they’re too tired and about to have a tantrum, sometimes I can feel myself about to blow too. I don’t though cause I remember I’m feeling just as they are, a bit tired and at my limit. That helps me reset.

Also if I have a new friend or a group over my house is perfect. Once I know you, you get the authentic house. That’s my gift to friends…it gives everyone permission to drop the facade. I’ve even said, ‘if I felt I had to clean up I wouldn’t have invited you, as there just isn’t time.’ It’s not always easy to drop your ego.

"it's just a phase" - very, very important phrase for when it's all going wrong!

If I can feel myself getting frustrated with something baby's doing I direct my annoyance into loud shushing or singing. Gets the emotion out there and baby likes it!

"Will this seem important next week?" - if I'm upset over something not going to plan I ask myself this. The answer is almost always no and then I can chill out a bit.

The MN classic of everyone feed and no one dead is perfect for those day when you or one of the children are ill and you need to survive.

More or less everything can wash out of carpet eventually. All mess can be solved, it's not permanent and it's not a disaster.

"Children need your love most when they deserve it least."

A slightly harsh way of phrasing it as they always deserve love - but good to remember when their behaviour isn't very lovable.

The days are long but the years are short is a favourite of mine! My baby’s not even a year old yet so I dunno who the hell I think I am spouting it but it’s still good 😂

I like “everyone’s fed and no one’s dead” which I got off here…!

Oh I am loving these! Think I will be repeating them to myself a lot 😂

@Wishona i especially love the messy house being ‘a gift to your friends’ that is so true and so right!

Do not back yourself into a corner.

It's so easy to find yourself in the "if you don't do XX we won't go to XX" battle, unless you're absolutely willing to stand firm, don't start that war or you'll find yourself stuck at home with a sulking child when you could have been out somewhere nice having fun, all over a pair of socks.

Get out of the house at least once a day, even if all you do is walk a quarter mile