I got this idea from a friend who is reading "MamaMia" by Mia Freedman.

So what is on your list of things you are most proud of and things you are not so much as a parent... Here's mine:

Smug

  1. I taught my children to self settle without Crying It Out.
  2. I breastfed my son till 12 months
  3. I realised when the LC told me that it was best to switch to formula she was right - and eventually I was ok with that.
  4. I have always talked to my children about their emotions and mine.
  5. I have never smacked my kids
  6. DD did Ballet & Swimming before she started Kinder
  7. I chose a school for my children that follows my parenting style.
  8. I am responsible for the way I react to their behaviour. And they know this. If I yell I have to apologise and it's up to me to reassure them if they are hurt by my reaction. In turn this has shown them they too have to be responsible for their own reactions and they also like to reassure and show affection when they have hurt others through their reactions.
  9. As siblings my children do not be violent towards each other. They do not swear or try to hurt each other with words.
  10. I have taught my children to have good manners.
  11. I like that we have special time. After a bad day I might wake them up and we'll have cuddles in my bed with a hot chocolate or hot milk and honey and we'll reflect on the day and end the day on a happier note.
  12. I/DH read to DD every night until she could read to herself.
  13. I have protected my children from toxic people even if it means family.
  14. I try to be consistant and parent at all times even if I'm tired or sick.
  15. My kids prefer sushi/sashimi over McDonalds or junk take out.
  16. My children have never had coke, and they think it's evil LOL!


Crap

  1. At 4 days old we tried to CIO our DD thinking thats what we had to do so she wouldn't "wrap us round her little finger". It lasted one day... and never happened again.
  2. I put rice cereal in DD's bottle as I was told it would help her sleep.
  3. Screaming at my kids. Even though I don't smack I think yelling can be just as damaging and painful to a child as any smack. And even though I'm working on this I'm still not perfect.
  4. I was impatient with my first pregnancy. I wonder if I had not gone to the hospital because I wanted any reason to give birth, that maybe I wouldn't have ended up with a c/s. I wish I had researched birth as much as I had with DS and that I had the patience and calm I had with his pregnancy.
  5. DS has never done any extra curricular activities.
  6. I hate pretend play. I feel I don't play enough with my kids. But honestly I'd rather go through sleep deprivation again than do pretend play. It's my own personal hell. I feel bad because I'm always thinking about what I could be doing instead. So in turn I try and pick activites to do with them that I'll enjoy instead of what I know they want to do.
  7. In most cases my children self regulate their tv, technology time. I feel like because of this they don't play with their toys as much as other kids.
  8. I have been known to give my kids 2 minute noodles for dinner. And then once they are in bed order thai or indian and justify it because they wouldn't eat it as it has Chilli in it.
  9. I don't care about sugars, numbers or additives. I know I am lucky to have children who don't get sugar highs or are allergic to preservatives but I feel bad I don't take more of a conscious effort to minimise this.
  10. I hate the memories I have of getting angry with my children because as babies they didn't sleep.
  11. I haven't read hardly as much to DS as I did to DD.
  12. Sometimes I rush bedtime because I know I'll have some free time. Then 15 minutes later I'll realise how crappy that was and want to wake them up for cuddles.
  13. The broken promises of "We'll go to the park today" "I'll get you a new xxx next week" etc etc
  14. Toast for dinner.
  15. Not acknowledging my own PND with DD and in turn suffering and knowing that she probably suffered too.
  16. Being messy or lazy at times and still expecting the kids to keep their rooms tidy.
  17. Letting the kids get up before us and watching TV with a snack from the snackbox so we can get an extra 30 minutes sleep.
  18. I don't walk to school enough.
  19. I don't have playdates here enough.
  20. Some days I might spend all morning on the phone instead of spending quality time with DS.


I'll add to this list probably as I see other people's lists that are the same as mine LOL!

Now just as a disclaimer these are things I think are good or crap for me... this does not mean that I am judging anyone else for their choices just as I'm sure there will be things that I think are good that other's may not. These lists are our own personal lists. They are not meant to be compared negatively.