Mom Nails The 5 Things We're All Sick Of Saying To Our Kids
Here's what we all wish our kids would understand.
fizkes | Canva My dear children, I am your mother and I love you, but, at this very moment, I'm sitting in the car in the Target parking lot, and very slowly drinking an iced coffee because I need a break from you. Here are a few things I want to express to you without yelling or losing my mind (again!)
This mom just nailed 5 things we're all sick of saying to our kids:
1. No, I will not buy you an iPhone
You are 10. You don't need an iPhone. I don't believe you when you say all of your friends have one. (And to the mother who did get her 10-year-old an iPhone... Come on! You're killing me here!) And believe it or not, asking me over and over again while crying and begging doesn't make me want to get you one. It just makes me want to run away ... and never, ever get you an iPhone.
2. We do have fun
It makes me mad when you tell me that we never do anything fun — mostly because by "never," you mean in the last 20 minutes. It doesn't matter that I took you to the most amazing place ever yesterday. If I haven't found a way to be the coolest mom on the block today, "We never do anything fun."
3. I am not here to clean up your mess
That includes dirty dishes, food wrappers of any kind, dirty (or clean) clothes, socks, pillows, and blankets on the floor, dog pee (because you didn't take her out while you were in charge of her), crumbs on the counter, your pee on or around the toilet seat, toothpaste in and around the sink (seriously, I don't even know how you get so much toothpaste around the sink!), electronics, and chargers of said electronic devices. I'm your mother, not your maid. (And, no! I will not pay you to clean up messes that YOU made.)
4. I am not a single parent AKA bug your father once in a while
If I'm not home and you're sick, mad at your brother, hungry, or anything else that requires a parent, you can talk to your father. Your father is perfectly capable of parenting and is quite good at it! You should check out his skills sometime. This also works even if I'm home and he's home, too! I know it's amazing to realize you have TWO fully functioning parents in your life who love and take care of you. But, you do!
5. If you tell me you're "bored" one more time
Let's just say you would be very wise to not tell me that again. That is all.
Love,
Mom
Kelly Covert is an author, speaker, and inner voice coach. She is the creator and host of In Her Voice, a podcast for women who want to live a fulfilling life of purpose guided by their inner voice.