As a parent, I strive to create a balanced and equitable environment for my children. Whether it’s pouring drinks or sharing stories from their early years, I always aim for fairness. I make sure to include everyone in photos and activities, but despite my best efforts, I often hear complaints about favoritism or injustice in their lives. After some observation, I’ve come to agree: life can be pretty unfair for them. Here’s a lighthearted look at some of the grievances they raise daily:
- They must take a shower every night if they smell, even if they just showered the night before.
- Drinking my coffee? Not happening.
- They have to lug their own school bags to the car.
- The other day, Mia found a lone chocolate chip on the counter, while her siblings, Sam and Ava, had to wait until the next day for their snack.
- Why does bread have to come with crust?
- I don’t let them blast Minecraft videos on the iPad while I’m working in the kitchen.
- Mornings start with waking them up.
- And ending the day with bedtime.
- I get annoyed when they jump in puddles with new shoes on.
- If it’s under 35 degrees, jackets are mandatory.
- Eating upstairs? Not allowed.
- Mia gets 15 extra minutes of TV time at night.
- Because she’s the oldest, she’s watched years more TV than her brothers.
- School nights mean no outside time past 7:15.
- They must brush their teeth.
- They had to come with me to the drive-thru bank last week.
- Homework is a part of life.
- Outdoor recess is off-limits when it rains.
- The crust-to-pizza ratio is way too high.
- Mia is the only girl.
- Shoelaces can be a hassle.
- No riding bikes or scooters inside the house.
- Sam has to wear glasses.
- On the flip side, Sam gets to wear glasses.
- We have to drive to Florida for spring break instead of flying.
- Monday mornings are always tough.
- They can’t watch PG-13 movies.
- Muddy shoes must come off outside.
- Soda? Nope.
- The boys have both a sister and a brother.
- I made Sam the last waffle yesterday morning.
- Helmets are a must when riding bikes outside.
- Sleepovers are not allowed on school nights.
- Mia gets to go to overnight camp this summer and will have fun without her brothers.
- But she’ll also miss out on a lot of fun home.
- Spelling tests are a regular occurrence.
- Mia used too much hot water last night, leaving Sam with just a five-minute shower.
- They never get to stay home from school just because.
- They don’t each have a kitten.
- Or any kitten, for that matter.
- Haircuts are a necessity.
- They can’t pick exactly what they want for dinner every night.
- Remote controls can’t be stored in their rooms.
- Getting their toenails cut is a chore.
- They can’t use my computer.
- Writing thank you notes is mandatory.
- Mia gets to do everything first.
- Sam has an older sibling and a younger one to deal with.
- Ava gets babied a bit more.
- And vegetables are a non-negotiable.
Life can be a rollercoaster of fairness and unfairness in parenting. For more on similar topics, check out our other blog posts like this one on home insemination. You can also find great resources at Make a Mom and Kindbody for pregnancy and home insemination.
In summary, while I do my best to create a level playing field for my children, it seems that fairness is a relative concept in their eyes. Each of these little “injustices” adds a touch of humor to our daily lives.