For every moment I’ve felt like an exceptional mom, there are at least ten when I’ve questioned my suitability for the role. Parenting can be overwhelming, and I often irrationally fret that one wrong move could set my kids on a path to a tumultuous adulthood.
But when my sensible side kicks in, I recognize that my seemingly monumental blunders—while distressing at the time—aren’t going to leave any lasting scars. Just like any job, perfection is neither realistic nor achievable, and mistakes are simply part of the journey.
Take, for example, the time I accidentally bumped my newborn son’s head against a door frame while walking through. Or when I unintentionally rolled my kid’s fingers up in the car window. Let’s not forget the time I ignored my son’s complaints about his stinky jacket, only to find out it had been soaked by our cat’s pee. Oh, and there was the time my toddler strolled around with a broken wrist for two days before I finally took him to the doctor (in my defense, it didn’t look swollen). Most recently, at a gathering at our neighbor’s place, it took us a solid half hour to realize our preschooler was still at home. Yikes.
Over nearly 12 years and four kids, I’ve certainly racked up my fair share of epic fails. To remind myself I’m not alone in this, I reached out to some incredible moms for their own “mom fail” stories, and here are a few of their gems:
- My son lost his first tooth while I was with him all day and I didn’t even notice it was gone.
- When my youngest was 3, I picked up a case of beer while grocery shopping. My daughter, in a crowded aisle, exclaimed, “Mom, are you drinking that all by yourself, or is someone else coming over to help?”
- I let my 3-year-old access the Wi-Fi for an online game without realizing he could make purchases with one-click. Suddenly, my phone was buzzing with emails from Amazon thanking me for my “purchases.”
- I jokingly told my 8-year-old, “Sure, go catch a squirrel,” thinking he could never do it. He came home with two squirrels, one of which bit him.
- The one time I forgot to attend an assembly, my daughter won both student of the month and artist of the month. She’s never won two awards since, but now I never miss an assembly just in case.
And it doesn’t stop there. One time, my son stealthily popped the screen out of his window while I thought he was napping. My brother called to inform me that my child was literally dangling out of the window!
Or how about the birthday party mix-up? I thought it was at 1 PM; it was actually at noon. We arrived just as it was ending, and my daughter was in tears.
Once, when my son was 2, I fell asleep on the couch before my husband got home. When he arrived, we found our son sitting in a big chair, bottle of Boone’s Farm wine between his legs. Mortified doesn’t even cover it!
And then there was the time I sent my first-grader dressed as Hulk Hogan for “Favorite Celebrity Day,” only to discover it was actually scheduled for the following week. His teacher got a good laugh out of that!
See? Everyone has their share of parenting blunders. So, the next time you feel overwhelmed by your parenting mishaps, remember, you’re definitely not alone. Bookmark this for reassurance or chat with your fellow moms; I guarantee they’ll have some classic stories of their own. If you don’t have one yet, just wait—your turn will come! At least we can all laugh about it while knowing our kids are just fine.
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Summary:
Parenting is a journey riddled with blunders, and every mom has her share of epic fails. From forgotten assemblies to unintentional accidents, these moments are a reminder that no one is perfect. Embrace the mishaps, share a laugh, and remember you’re not alone in this parenting rollercoaster.