Hello!

189 Comments

These amusing tips should help you keep sane as a parent, at the very least give you a few laughs.

  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.

I know that wasn’t a traditonal life story, BUT it is very true!

We may get commissions for purchases made using links in this post. Learn more.
  • Still adjusting to number 1 and 2. I didn’t know showers could build up THAT much soap scum haha

    Reply

  • You gave so many beautiful tips!! Thanks!!

    Reply

  • I needed this 3 days ago – would have saved me losing my s**t!

    Reply

  • Spot on & funny.

    Reply

  • lol this is funny…a great article. thanks for sharing

    Reply

  • Meditation is a huge key to keeping sane. I struggle a lot as a single parent and often resort to this as i try not to drink alcohol a lot.

    Reply

  • This is brilliant, and ridiculously relevant to my life!!

    Reply

  • haha very funny, we certainly need to relax a bit more about the little things.

    Reply

  • Great sanity keeping tips. I agree with ALL of them!!!

    Reply

  • thank you for reminding us to relax a bit more and have a sense of humour :)

    Reply

  • lovely read and laugh with this, thanks

    Reply

  • Haha.. Great tips! had a good chuckle too!

    Reply

  • The most important things for me when parenting are to try and keep my sense of humour, to count to 10 before I blow my top over something I’m not happy about, and to never let any of the family go to bed (or go out somewhere) when harsh words have been said.

    Reply

  • thanks for sharing was a great read

    Reply

  • Thanks for the light hearted view on parenting. Sometimes life gets way to serious.

    Reply

Post a comment
Add a photo
Your MoM account


Lost your password?

Enter your email and a password below to post your comment and join MoM:

You May Like

Loading…

Looks like this may be blocked by your browser or content filtering.

↥ Back to top

Thanks For Your Star Rating!

Would you like to add a written rating or just a star rating?

Write A Rating Just A Star Rating
Join