Tips to keep you sane as a parent.. - Real Mum story on MoM

1. Lower your standards for cleanliness and order.

2. Did that? Lower them even more.

3. Your house will never look like a magazine spread, period. Embrace that.

4. No matter how many baskets you buy to contain toys, they will always be visible. Embrace the Toys ‘R Us/ student house-chic decor.

5. You can never have too many ice-pop in the freezer. How many bad moods have been fixed by a simple ice-pop?

6. If you can’t change them, change your perspective. For example I read recently– probably on Satan’s website Pinterest– that toothpaste is great for cleaning things like taps. So now when I go into the bathroom every day and see toothpaste splatter all over the bathroom taps I think about how my children have done half the chore of cleaning for me. How considerate of them! Then I wipe it off while cursing.

7. Those chores that no one ever wants to do. Decide if you would rather do it yourself, badger your child to it, or let it go. If you are confused about what to do, see Number 1 on this list.

8. No one cares what is stuffed under your child’s bed, why should you. Unless it is old food. In that case, you should get a dog.

9. If you have boys, your bathroom will always faintly stink like pee. Invest in some Febreeze and count down the days until they move out and you can go visit them and pee on their bathroom floor.

10. Don’t buy white furniture. Unless you enjoy screaming at your children every time they go near it.

11. However bad a situation might seem, one day it will be funny. I have a few for which I am eagerly awaiting for the funny to kick in. Any time now….

12. When your child is a young teen there will be nothing more embarrassing than your very existence. Use this to your advantage. Start planning early.

13. Do not paint any walls in your house with flat paint.

14. Be okay with letting your kids stumble sometimes. Whether that is turning in an assignment late because they didn’t do it or wearing an outfit so hideous you have trouble looking at them without laughing.

15. Noise cancelling headphones are great for blocking out whining, bickering and the endless episodes of Sponge Bob.

16. Socks do not have to match. Every day is Crazy Sock Day at my house, which is infinitely better than Crazy Mum Day.

17. The crayons will break and it is okay to throw them away rather then save them to make some sort of craft that involves the hair dryer. In fact, I give you permission to not feel guilty about all the crafts you know you will never do.

18. Your children will not die from eating the occasional hot dog or frozen pizza. And by occasional I mean more than you are really willing to admit.

19. If your children are driving you crazy arguing with each other, start an argument with them. Then your children will bond over their mutual hatred of you and be quiet.

20. Children do not appreciate top sheets or high thread counts. Buy neither.

21. Homework time is the worst time of the day. Help your kids and yourself by having a designated time and a quiet place to do homework. Preferably in a neighbour’s home.

22. Just say No to ironing.

23. A glass of wine and some really bad TV makes everything seem a little better.

24.Last, but not least, one day you’ll be a grandparent and you can watch and laugh as your child tries to cope with all the same things as you did.

Know that wasn’t a life story, BUT it is very true!

Posted by tahlia w, 15th June 2013

16 Comments

- - VernaB said
  - 17 Feb 2016
    6:40 pm
Haha this is awesome! At the moment I’m started to realise just how true these all are.

- - mom113055 said
  - 17 May 2015
    12:39 pm
great to read it

- - mom113055 said
  - 28 Apr 2015
    3:04 pm
reading these stories are great

- - mom57522 said
  - 04 Jan 2015
    8:43 am
Oh yeah, definitely some sane saving tips here.

- - jodimummy said
  - 23 Jun 2013
    3:06 pm
I really enjoyed reading this one… Oh so true! I can’t wait to be a grandparent

- - tahlia w said
  - 18 Jun 2013
    5:55 pm
Haha! We all laughed when our parents ‘cursed us’ with the joys of parenting. im not laughing now though..

- - vmartin40 said
  - 18 Jun 2013
    3:47 pm
Love these tips, oh how things can change when you become a parent! Thanks for your humour!

- - freeone1 said
  - 17 Jun 2013
    11:13 pm
lol welcome to the club of real motherhood enjoy

- - bubble_bliss said
  - 17 Jun 2013
    3:49 pm
Thank you for that I needed a little giggle and most of that is true so it makes it even better

- - lucky2b said
  - 17 Jun 2013
    10:15 am
ohh god this makes me feel so warm and fuzzy inside – thank you for being different from what the “society norm” is and actually telling it as it is!! Why do women put this much pressure on ourselves??

- - rowdyandplacid said
  - 16 Jun 2013
    10:38 pm
Oh I enjoyed this. I so wish someone had advised me on item 10. Seemed like a great idea to have all white furniture pre children!

- - tammykilby said
  - 16 Jun 2013
    8:41 pm
these are some really good tips on how to look at the lighter side of being a mum i really enjoyed reading this thankyou for sharing

- - ronis84 said
  - 16 Jun 2013
    7:04 pm
Wine and trash tv make EVERYTHING better haha

- - mel1 said
  - 16 Jun 2013
    4:02 pm
Had a good laugh reading this, thanks for posting. My mum always said to me, your children will do this to you one day… as usual mums are always right!

- - jodie80 said
  - 16 Jun 2013
    3:21 pm
Icy pops in the freezer i though i was the only one

- - katelt said
  - 16 Jun 2013
    1:31 pm
Number 22 – I threw away my iron, and decided things i own are now “artistically crushed”