Moms that cheat

A few days ago Tiffany posted this comment on my blog entry, Painting Pumpkins.
Your boys are looking older. We didn't carve or paint our pumpkins. We colored ours with markers b/c I was too lazy to clean the mess. They would have loved to paint them.

I got such a great laugh when I thought about all the times we have to cheat to keep our sanity.  In the pumpkin painting post the pictures don't show the paintbrush that was dropped on the floor multiple times, or the paint that Elijah wiped on his face and hair, or Graham dying to hold the bursh by himelf and dip it in the paint.  On a different day, a "fun" activity such as this could have made me lose my mind.  We all do things to keep our sanity.  If you have to use markers, they won't know the difference.

So I have a confession to make.  Sometimes I cheat too.  Sometimes I save dessert until after my kids have gone to bed, and I don't save them any.  Sometimes I let Graham play in his crib after he wakes up if he is not crying.  But here's the worst one... I have told Elijah that he is not old enough to chew gum.  You see, I hate gum.  I never chew it.  I hate the smell, the look, and the feel.  Most of all I hate cleaning it out of things like carpet and clothes.  Elijah told me he ate gum at my mom's house the last time he was there.  That's fine.  But not in at my house, not until he's at least 18.  If he is ever around you, please do not give him gum as a favor to me.

I don't think moms should beat themselves up for putting an uncrustable in their kids lunch instead of making the sandwich themselves.  These are thing we do to keep everything running smooth and every one as happy as possible.

So now its your turn to confess, how do you cheat?

Comments

[Katie]

I am not yet a Mommy but just want to tell you, that as Aunt to 5 nieces and nephews...I definitely see the need for "cheats" now and then. I dont think it means anyone is a bad Mommy for doing lil things like that...I think its a neccesity to maintain your sanity! Kudos to all the great Mommies out there, I hope to be as wonderful a mother to my kids one day as yall are :)

[Alicia]

It is funny and refreshing to know that I am not alone. Probably my worst is if we are having a rough day, I will make dinner early and then let the kids play for a while. Once it is dark, I tell them that I let them stay up really late and it is time to go to bed now- usually an hour before bedtime. They are happy that they got to stay up late and go right to bed. It will work until they learn to tell time!

[Allison Fowler]

I'm not a mommy yet...but I might as well be after being a Nanny to two little boys for 50 hours each week! Sometimes when we're in the car, I'll tell Sam (5) and Toby (2) that we're going to play "the quiet game." They fall for it every time and it gives me a few minutes to regain my sanity after all of the screaming, squealing, and talking stops. Sometimes you just need 3 minutes of peace and quiet in the car, you know? :)

[Kristen]

Too funny that there are so many comments! I am sure that I "cheat" my children often. My latest "tactic" is quite funny. We live in Serbia, so when they need to be disciplined around a Serb, I speak in English and when they need to be disciplined around an American, I speak in Serbian. I can look at my children with the nicest expression and sweetest voice and say, "If you eat one more piece of candy, you are going to be in BIG trouble!" They get the point and everyone thinks they are angels...which they are :0) most of the time.

[toni]

I tell my five year old that the video game centers in Wal-Mart are for kids 10 and older. So far he is a believer. My mom one day called me from Wal-Mart and asked about this "rule" because my son was telling the cashier that she needed to get the little kids out of there, because they weren't 10.

[jen wade]

I never knew you hated gum as much as I do! Surely Emily remembers that. I brag about the fact that both of my kids have spent many a quiet morning in their crib just talking and playing. I probably cheat my kids by not making a big deal about birthdays or holidays. I figure the longer they don't know to expect presents or a big party, the better off I am. They'll catch on eventually.

[Tiffany]

Yeah, I cheat a lot.
I let my kids keep their pajamas on if we're not going anywhere---that way I have less laundry to do.
I have my kids eat messy snacks while taking a bath so it's easier to clean up.
I occasionally bribe my kids to make a task easier. (This can come back to bite me!)
I have let them watch one more show on TV in order to keep them occupied so I can finish a task.
The list could go on...it is long...but I don't think they're suffering too much b/c of my laziness. At least I hope not.

[Jessica]

I will bribe my kids with M&Ms whenever necessary. They love eating M&Ms, so it always works. I don't know what I'll do when it stops working . . .

[Marie]

My 6 year old son Joseph is a TOTAL rule follower. So I cheat by writing the "rule" down on paper and it immediately becomes "law" in his life.

My latest one "No TV at night until you brush your teeth - if you get caught no TV that day." He now has the cleanest teeth on the block!!!

[Amy]

With 4 kids, I could write a book on my Mommy Cheats. The kids think it is a game to put their clothes away in the correct drawers, I act shocked when they "surprise" me and put them away. My teenager is mortified that I just bought all the little kids Christmas presents at Yard Sales, I promise they won't know the difference.
Amy

[Terri]

I with you on the gum! I guess my big cheat is that I've taught my 8 year old how to change my 14 month old's wet diaper (we're working up to poopies!). I call it delegation, but I guess it really is cheating. :P

[Lori]

We ended up cheating on Pumpkins this year too. After a failed attempt at painting, we ended up getting the Mr Potato head piece things for pumpkins. They ended up loving it. And I didn't feel quite so bad. :)

[Emily]

WHATEVER about the gum. That's what I'm going to give Elijah for Christmas...thanks for the idea! All 3 of mine chew gum and we have never "lost" any...never had a hair issue or carpet issue.

But to each his own.

I tell mine there is nothing on TV. That just simply isn't the case nowadays, but I just hate TV for my kids.

[Dawna Elguera]

I used to tell my boys that the Candy canes on the Christmas tree were just decorations, and that the Christmas candy in the candy dishes around the house were just decorations as well. My two oldest are now married and they are well adjusted men who passionately love God. So...young moms, be encouraged, your children won't grow up damaged! :) They will have memories to laugh about with you when they get older!! (and there are many more that I didn't share. BTW, they still don't eat the candy canes off of the Christmas tree)

[Colleen Corbett]

I have to join you on the gum. I have told Alex that it "Is not good for his belly". He also says others give him gum. "Good for them" I tell him! I also tell him that Chuck E Cheese is closed for renovations. ;0)

[wendi]

I am laughing so hard right now! My 14 mos. old is in his crib just talking away to his "lovey" as I'm reading this entry and trying to get ready at the same time. My biggest cheat though, and I know his doctor wouldn't approve, is sometimes if he's extremely fussy and having a hard time getting to sleep, I'll give hime a bottle (just sometimes).