Nope not at all! I'd rather my kids see my flawed than try and live up to any perceived or showcased "perfections" iykwim?
I think it's good to let the washing pile up, or to just say screw it for the day and sit on the couch and watch cartoons and eat rubbish. It's when it's the norm you have to worry. I remember a psych telling my friend once that the parents that pander to every want, whim or need of a child often raise narcissists because they grow to believe that everyone should pander to them. I would rather my kids see me flaws and all... so long there is more good than flaws I'm happy!
Just to clarify - Cai, I don't think I'd describe a 'perfect' parent as a supermum. For me, the supermum that I would love to be, would be someone who always has time for their kids, plays with them, is creative, proactive, energetic and excited about their parenting, is realistic, flexible and forgiving about things. Maybe being that mum full time is not realistic, but I'd love to be more consistently like the 'supermum' ideal I have.
I agree that for our kids to see us being human and dealing with/working on our flaws (and to know that we expect them to do the same, work on their own character) is a healthy thing.
yah agree, to me a supermum is someone who loves being a mum and everything that goes with it, and who also happens to be organised and have everything under control most of the time... i know someone who i perceive to be a supermum, with three little ones under the age of 3... she always seems to have everything under control (although i'm sure she doesn't, but it seems this way) and never seems to get in a tizz over things... just seems very capable and like she was made for being a mum. i've only got 1, well 1 and three quarters i suppose, and i'm not as organised as my friend. i suppose with three kids though there isn't much choice but to be organised.
I always associated that "Super Mum" title with mums that also work outside the home... the ones who's partners don't do many if any domestic duties so that when they finish their paid work they have to come home and do all the unpaid work as well. So according to that criteria i am not a super mum. I am a SAHM and consider this a full time job... not keen at all to take on two jobs... so I consider myself to be just your normal, run of the mill, vanilla flavoured mum ETA: not at all putting down mum's who work outside the home BTW hats off to you!!!
I'm a super mum but I'm a crap housewife. Really crap.
DP and I often comment that DD would drive a lot of parents nuts because she's so full-on. Lots of people comment when we're out how active she is and what a daredevil. And on top of that she's VERY determined so there are tantrums galore. I have much more patience with her than I ever thought I would. She gets lots of kisses and cuddles every day, lots of stories read to her, lots of conversation and even though she tries my patience, I can't remember the last time I raised my voice.
Having said all that, her face is often dirty, she often doesn't go to bed in pyjamas because she refuses to have them on, her hair is matted because she won't let me brush it.
But I also get comments on how happy she is.
So yes, I will big note myself and say I think I am a super mum.
And this is from someone who for most of their life thought they'd be a bad mum so I'm really, really surprised.
I guess we need a definition first before we answer LOL!
As for me... I'd say I'm like bath!
My biggest focus is my children's emotional wellbeing, their health & happiness and our overall connection as a family. I don't work outside the home, apart from volunteering at school and kinder, and my husband helps when needed. So I guess I'm vanilla too!
ETA: not at all putting down mum's who work outside the home BTW
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