If there’s one thing I’ve discovered, it’s that being pregnant and parenting simultaneously is a real challenge. It’s hard to be at the top of your parenting game when you have a little miracle draining your energy around the clock. I’ve never claimed to be a perfect parent, but my current state has led me to adopt a more relaxed approach to the rules I once held dear. While I can’t say I’m proud of some of these choices, I’m just trying to survive!
Here are my candid confessions about parenting during pregnancy:
- I allowed my son to munch on a fast-food burrito while perched on his iPad in bed. When I spotted bits of beef on the sheets the next morning, I simply brushed them aside and didn’t bother changing the linens. Honestly, I just didn’t care!
- I let my son use a cup to pee and then pour it into the toilet. It gives me a few precious moments to rest, and it makes him feel accomplished without me nagging. Potty training at its finest!
- I’ve resorted to telling my son that all the fun places are closed, from parks to ice cream shops. In his eyes, the whole town is shut down—except for my favorite Mexican restaurant, which is curiously open.
- I’ve become a master at hiding and throwing away any toys that require too much effort to clean. If it has tiny pieces, it’s out the door. I’m not risking a trip hazard in my already-exhausted state.
- I tell my son that his friends are busy so we can skip playdates. He thinks he’s missing out, but I know that the minute they arrive, it’s chaos—snacks, toys everywhere, and bathroom emergencies. I just can’t handle that right now!
- When I received an email about my son’s behavior from his teacher, I didn’t reply. Instead, I forwarded it to a friend for advice and did absolutely nothing for a week. Normally, I’d be proactive, but I just didn’t have it in me.
- I noticed my son had a little accident, and instead of changing him, I suggested he just let it dry. “Go stand in the sun,” I told him, because hunting for clean clothes was not happening.
- After a long day at the pool, I skipped giving my son a bath and didn’t change the sheets the next morning. I have a feeling I’m going to regret that decision soon!
- When we ran out of toilet paper, I used paper towel scraps instead for two days. I thought, “How did people do it before?” and figured this was a decent solution.
- I’ve convinced my son that doing chores will help him grow taller and maybe even turn into a dinosaur. “If you fetch me some water, you could sprout a tail!” I’ve had to get creative to keep us both sane during this pregnancy.
I recognize that my parenting during this pregnancy might not win any awards, but I’ve embraced this laid-back style for now. My son might be in for a shock when the “strict mom” returns, but for the moment, I’m just hoping to get through this without too many emotional scars for him.
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In summary, my parenting standards have certainly taken a hit during my pregnancy, but sometimes survival mode means letting go of the little things.