10 Reasons Mummy is a Hypocrite - Things You Tell Them Off For That You Probably Do Yourself!

I was reading my daughter (who shall forever be known as Mochyn Gini) a lovely bedtime story this evening called "Eat Your Peas" by Kes Gray. It's about a little girl called Daisy who doesn't want to eat her peas and her mum who promises the earth in her desperation to get Daisy to eat the peas. I won't spoil the story in case somebody might be about to read it, but it made me realise how we expect our children to do things that we normally don't do then complain when they refuse to do it.

10 Reasons Mummy is a Hypocrite - Things You Tell Them Off For That You Probably Do Yourself!

1. Not eating all their veg or anything else they don't like. Let's face it - some children do not like sprouts. Some adults don't either!
2. Not taking their plates out when your desk is probably full of coffee mugs etc.
3. Not keeping their rooms tidy when your room is the home's "dumping ground" (I know mine is).
4. Not taking their dirty clothes from the bathroom - they probably lost them underneath yours :)
5. Using foul language - Even if it's just what you say accidentally when you stub your toe.
6. Interrupting - It is so annoying when you're talking to somebody to hear "MUUUUUUUUUM! Mum. Mum. Mum. Mum. Mummyyyyyy! Mummyyyyyy..." and while you might not do it quite like that, think of the times you've interrupted them talking amongst themselves or before they've finished their sentence.
7. Putting extra bits in the shopping trolley I mean come on! When you're slugging around the supermarket and you see something you like, you pop it in without thought.
8. Not finishing a task because they're distracted My OH (Forever known as Big Bear) is up and has put a film on. I have stopped writing this to watch the film at least 4/5 times. The film has been on 30 mins.
9. Picking noses/biting nails We all have some sort of habit we indulge in, we were always told by our parents not to yet we still do :)
10. Borrowing without asking "It's only for a short while, he won't mind" You may not do it with your kids stuff, but you've probably done it in front of them.

If you haven't/don't do any of the above, then well done you, you are the perfect parent!

If you're unfortunately normal like everyone else, then remember - some things are OK to do, some really aren't. Are you telling them off for an annoying behaviour that you can ignore or is what they are doing genuinely wrong?

I would say that habits such as nose-picking, nail-biting or thumb-sucking are things you can ignore, if you try hard enough. It's not easy to do that straight away (Goldilocks came home sucking her thumb one day when she was 3 and hasn't stopped doing so since!) but it gets easier with time.

With the things that aren't OK, try to remember that a child will be reluctant to follow your instruction if he sees you doing the opposite. I regularly leave cups and plates on my little table, a habit I'm trying to break. Goldilocks takes her plates out eventually, after I nag her several times to do it!

If you want your children to do it, lead by example... or die trying :D