I laughed to myself as I patted my boys on the head on the way to the shower and said, “Try not to fight while I’m in the shower”.
My very next thought was, “How cute of me to be so optimistic”
The truth is, as parents, we are sometimes a little naively optimistic about lots of things. Maybe it’s wishful thinking, maybe it’s naivety, whatever it is, it is cute of us to be so hopeful when we really should know better.
But, the truth is, I think this optimism is the ultimate survival skill for new (and experienced parents) to keep doing what we do everyday. Because if we gave up all hope, that would be a little depressing. And, I’m not sure I could get out of bed in the mornings.
Here are 20 examples of how parents can be a little overly optimistic because it’s the survival skill every parent needs to keep from going insane:
1. We think showering while the kids are awake is a good idea.
2. We think playdates at our own house are a good idea.
3. We think going out to eat with any child under the age of 5 is a good idea.
4. We think that it will be OK to let them stay up past their bedtime just this once.
5. We think potty training will be easy this time because kid number 1 potty trained in one day.
6. We think something will be easier this time because, “I’m more experienced”.
7. We think the 3yo will eat something again just because he did last time.
8. We think we can be on time places.
9. We think, “My kids will never do that.”
10. We think, “I will NOT become my mother.”
11. We think we will sleep again at some point.
12. We think the next stage will be easier.
13. We think there is such a thing as running a quick errand with 3 kids in tow.
14. We think our lives won’t change once we have kids.
15. We think pregnancy will come naturally to us.
16. We think, “I won’t wear sweats all day when I become a stay at home mom”
17. We think my kid won’t be the…mean one, weird one, crazy one.
18. We think homework can’t be that hard.
19. We think teenagers will be easier than the toddler years.
20. We think, “What’s one more kid?”
What’s another thing you tell yourself to survive?
Very true and funny too! Motherhood is survival 101 for sure! Here’s one to add to your list: “I can have kids and still have time for myself!” Or “Full time blogger and full time mom…piece of cake!” 🙂
Haha! Those are good for sure!
You’ve nailed it with every single one of these! I especially love #9….I have some friends who truly believe this even when I have SEEN their kids do ‘that’. 🙂
I know. We’re probably all guilty of that one!
Yes, yes and yes to all of the above, especially wishing the teen years will be easier, as I truly know they won’t from my own past experience, but still wishful thinking, I suppose!
I think some things will be easier, like the fact that they can wipe their own bums and stuff. But, other stuff will be WAY harder.
I keep telling myself “If I can just make it to nap time, things will be better.”
Oh, wait. My kids don’t nap. *facepalm*
Ha! My 3yo is in his room “napping” right now. I’m not sure what’s really happening, but I’m glad he’s quiet.
“If I can just get through today, tomorrow will be better/calmer/ easier.”
YES! 🙂
Silly silly us… will we ever learn? But we MUST have that hope. 🙂 *Survival*
OMG 8! And if I can just have a day or an overnight break.
You are so right! If we weren’t optimistic, where would we be?!
Lies! The lies we tell ourselves! Do they work? Most definitely not but we want to believe they do!! LMAO
Mine is, “Come on, guys, I KNOW you are capable of cleaning up after yourselves!” (This is mostly dumb because I’m saying it to people too young to know what ‘capable’ means.)