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“My Kids Will Eat Whatever We’re Eating!”: People Are Sharing 30 ‘Parenting Fantasies’ That Just Didn’t Work Out
Nearly every soon-to-be parent has a pretty clear idea of how they will raise their kids. Some fantasize about a screen-free childhood, while others imagine their kids agreeing with every word they say. But the truth is, nothing changes their approach to parenting more like actually having tiny humans coming into this world. Because as every experienced parent knows, reality quickly kicks in when you have to deal with their shenanigans all day, every day.
Well, writer and illustrator Aubrey Hirsch can relate. A few days ago, she took to Twitter to ask fellow moms and dads about the parenting fantasies they gave up on "swiftly and completely" after having kids. She kicked off the thread by revealing her own dream that quickly got shattered: "My kids will eat whatever we're eating!"
Her question resonated with hundreds of parents who wasted no time offering their own hilarious experiences. We at Bored Panda have gathered some of the best responses from the thread, and we hope you'll find comfort in knowing that ditching your ideals is not that big of a deal. Scroll down to read these funny and relatable tweets, and be sure to share your own stories with us in the comments, we’d love to hear them!
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#2
kathryn stretton 2 years ago
Yup. They haven't eaten ANYTHING good for them for ages. Then......just eat any old c**p as long as it's food. Very worrying time. It does get better.
While welcoming the little ones into this world is extremely rewarding, raising these tiny bundles of joy is far from an easy task. Sure, it's easy for parents to come up with certain ideas while they are expecting and fantasize about what kind of role models they would be to their kids. But even the most level-headed people feel confused after how much children can turn their life upside down. Luckily, that doesn't stop them from doing everything in their power to do what’s best for their kids.
#4
#5
Benita Valdez 2 years ago
Mom had one on me in the 80's because I was a wanderer and without fail would always either get lost or hide. It saved her alot of anxiety with me
Parents all over the world deserve everyone’s respect for bending over backward to mold kind, smart, and simply decent human beings. But every now and then, they inevitably start to feel overwhelmed and even confused by their own actions. So if moms and dads want to keep their minds healthy and create positive relationships with their kids, they should try to set some ground rules and boundaries.
To learn more about household rules and maintaining a healthy balance when raising children, we previously reached out to Dr. Sarah Mundy, Consultant Clinical Psychologist and author of Parenting Through Stories. She explained to us in an interview that one of the main jobs parents have is to guide their kids. They must keep them safe and healthy and support them to engage in life. To do this, they also have to teach them to lead their own fulfilling lives, and setting boundaries is one way of achieving that.
#7
Tigerpacingthecage 2 years ago
Yep. Or try to travel with kids.... 10x more expensive and with all that extra work. No, I absolutely don't do it as frequently as I thought I would.
#8
M O'Connell 2 years ago
I fondly remember the EP-format VHS tape of old cartoons made by a relative who had cable TV. It seemed to have worked.
“It’s important that boundaries and rules are delivered with warmth and empathy,” Dr. Mundy told Bored Panda. “We are helping our children understand what they have been developed — not as a punishment but as a way of helping our children learn. After all, discipline means to teach, not punish.”
Once children become a little older, parents can start to involve them in creating rules themselves. Dr. Mundy said that more authoritative parents often allow autonomy and encourage independence whilst also setting clear limits on their kids’ behavior. “Children with authoritative parents tend to be more confident, have better emotional regulation and find life easier than those who have parents who are overly authoritarian (‘It’s my way or the high way’) or permissive (‘Just do whatever you want’).”
#10
Joely King 2 years ago
Yeah. This is a total nope. Getting sleep? What is that? Especially on baby #2
However, some kids and teenagers have a rebellious side and often push the limits by misbehaving. While this can make parents' lives a bit complicated, children are much more likely to respect household rules if they understand their purpose and know they were set with good intentions, the psychologist argued. “Have a positive relationship with them,” she said. “The more playfulness you have in your relationship with your child, the more you listen to and support them, the more likely they are to follow your boundaries (with a bit of push and pull, of course!).”
#12
Tigerpacingthecage 2 years ago
When they are older - yes. Like after the first year. Best way to avoid tantrums. Newborns and babies - no, especially not newborns, it's easier to just follow their cues.
#14
But sticking to the rules is not always easy, not even for the parents themselves. “As a parent, I sometimes set unobtainable boundaries (normally when I’m stressed and my children aren’t listening to me) only to have to renege on them,” Dr. Mundy recounted. She said it’s best to avoid going “in gung-ho” when something isn’t going your way and you’re not as emotionally stable as you want to be. “Such emotional states aren’t conducive to thinking straight!”
#17
Mighty Remolacha 2 years ago
I did them for all 4 of my kids- including twins! Used disposables rarely and appreciated them when I did but loved cloth. I found cloth wasn't too difficult, even when the diaper service we were gifted a couple weeks for closed just when baby#1 was born!
“Set boundaries that are realistic and achievable and don’t overdo it. You all need to learn and remember what they are and have time to put them into place. Try to help children learn that what is being asked is fun — and teach them how to do them or do them together in the first instance,” Dr. Mundy suggested. But if you lack the energy to create rules in the first place, don’t beat yourself up. “Reflect upon whether you are asking too much of yourself or your child and whether you need to look after yourself a bit more.”
#19
xXCloudy_PuffXx 2 years ago
Falling in to them isn't the problem, inforcing them is. Kids are gonna like what they like, shaming them for liking something is the issue.
Mighty Remolacha 2 years ago
Me: here are tonka trucks! my daughters: this is a mama truck and this is a baby truck!
Stannous Flouride 2 years ago
In many cases if you give your daughter 3 trucks they'll become a mommy, daddy, and baby truck.
Ivana Bašić 2 years ago
I have a girl and the same, so many cars. Don't think you can avoid that with either, unless you actually ban cars.
Scourge McCloud 2 years ago
That was me as a kid. a couple of my favorites were the batmobile and Lamborghini coutach.
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Misty Pendergrast 2 years ago
I figured I'll dress my kids how I like, until they have their own opinions. Then, I'll let them pick their clothes (within reason).
Grace Noyes 2 years ago
What really interested me was the difference between the way my nieces played together and my sons played together (same ages). With the girls, lots of conversation and negotiations. With the boys pretty much lots of nonverbal noises. Loud noises.
D20 Games 2 years ago
My daughter(7yo), wants her nails painted. When I am finished, my son(5yo) will want to gets his done too. They can pick whatever color we have. I don't have a problem with it. My son also has a baby doll, he ❤️'s that doll. He takes care of it. It sits with him while he plays with his cars and Legos. Kids, no matter their gender, are still exploring their world, they like what they like. Don't get hung up on stereotypes.
Tigerpacingthecage 2 years ago
Pretty much all young kids like cars. Just like pretty much all young kids play with dolls (if allowed and encouraged to do so). I think this was the positive thing with having a boy and girl close in age - they had access to all type of toys and played with what they liked. And they shared clothes a lot so we dressed them in all types of colors (my older boy's (he's 9) favorite color is still yellow - a pretty "gender neutral" color) Yes, they do tend to be influenced when they start daycare/pre-school/school (sadly) even though teachers try to encourage them to play with different things nowadays. But I don't believe we are programmed by biological sex, it's something they learn imo.
Ambry Petersen 2 years ago
There is nothing wrong with being true to your birth gender. There is no shame in being a boy or girl. My daughter is a total girly girl, I am not bothered by this in the least.
Cat Monaghan 2 years ago
My youngest daughter took "Gender Studies" and said the same thing.... until HE came along! Mwah ha ha ha 😆😆
Cyndielouwhoo 2 years ago
Growing up we played with any kind of toys, three girls and one boy: We mixed GI Joe's with Strawberry Shortcake dolls and Hot Wheels, Lincoln Logs and Barbies with Legos, block and Star Wars toys. Nonjudgmental imagination is what's important. Heck, we loved playing with giant cardboard boxes the most 😃
Ivanka van der Reest 2 years ago
My stepsister has two daughters. One is now 2 years old (the second one 8 months). They tried to do the gender neutral raising. Of course the 2 year old girl only wants pink dresses. 😂 But then again, if a girl wants to be a girl girl or a boy wants to be a boy, let them. The majority of children end up cis gender anyway (and when they don't you can always adapt).
Blackstone 2 years ago
Sometimes your kid likes the stereotyped things. I was always a TMNT, superhero, micromachines, Transformers kid who hated dresses and the color pink with a passion of 1000 fiery suns (though I do love accessories and glitter). My little girl loves pink (and purple and blue) and all things girly. 🤷🏻♀️
kathryn stretton 2 years ago
Soooo, all that won't impress them because it's a bit meh. Bring on the unicorns!!
Monica landreth 2 years ago (edited)
I hated dolls and the color pink and wearing dresses or bows. However, I know more about football than most men and could play sports twice as good as my brother and would go fishing on dates as a teen. I can be as girly as anyone, and I LOOK girly. I taught my son and daughter both to play ball, fish, throw a football (their father never came around), and my son is a Marine and my daughter was a college softball player who played with girly things as a child (and my son loved cars, etc). Every kid is different, but giving gender specific toys is not pushing something on them.
MJ 2 years ago
I have two nephews both older than my daughter. My sister saved the cutest and most sentimental clothes, shoes, and jackets for her. Obviously we didnt dress her in “Mama’s Boy” or something on them, but she has a variety of cutesy girly stuff and stuff in blues and grays too. And she looked awesome rocking at denim jacket, purple skirt, and black converse at age 2 😎
L.a. Williams 2 years ago
Tried to give oldest boy a doll a 9mo old he smacked on the table and threw it behind him.
Tucker Brayer 2 years ago
If that's what they like then there's nothing wrong. It's forcing gender stereotypes that are a problem.
Barbara Skolly 2 years ago
Never forced it on my girls but I have a house full of sequins, rainbows and uniforms, and the epic rainbow sequined unicorn purse
Debbie Sanders 2 years ago
That’s kind of on you! I probably had the same amount of cars, trucks, etc but also had dolls, dollhouse, and a Little Tykes kitchen.
Dana Ondráčková 2 years ago (edited)
Me "hi niece, you have a tón of Pink stuff" 4 yo niece"yup And I dont even like pink" "what do you like?" "dunno, yellow?"
Kittymisfit 2 years ago
Kids' clothes are heavily gendered. It's not easy to find clothes that are not blue/orange or SUPER frilly and highly feminine. Toys are heavily gendered, as well. It's challenging. We try to let our son have things that aren't traditionally for boys whenever he wants them, but we don't push him to prefer things that are "for boys." I also challenge him whenever I hear him say something is for girls/for boys and whenever he tells me I have to be the girl character in games because I am a girl... I actually challenge him about calling me a girl, since I am an adult and no longer a girl. It can be annoying when society seems to be working against our plans to fight gender stereotypes, but there are still ways to teach our kids that they should feel comfortable as they are and like whomever and whatever they prefer.
Foxxy (The Original) 2 years ago
My son is the same. One year he wanted a doll and pram so we got him that for Christmas but that lasted only a few months. Now he is only interested in cars, trucks, trains, boats etc.
yellowphantom 2 years ago
We thought it was so cute when my youngest son spent an hour carefully arranging all the furniture and people in his grandmother's dollhouse. Then-crashing sounds-there was an earthquake and dinosaurs attacked.
John Smith 2 years ago
Yeah, for the majority of humanity, their plumbing matches the control center.
Navigating the parenting minefield can be overwhelming, nearly every parent can attest to that. Luckily for us, Dr. Mundy was ready to offer some advice on setting healthy rules and finding balance within the family. First, she noted to think about what is important to you as a parent. “What do you hope to teach your child and how will you do this in a way? Don’t go overboard with too many rules — start early with small expectations of tasks that you can do together.” Then, make sure to consider what is meaningful to your child. “What are they able to manage? We often expect more of children than they are actually able to do,” the psychologist explained.
#21
Benita Valdez 2 years ago
My nephew thinks McDonald's only opens once a week and only during very specific times of the day and it's not the same time every day it's open.
#22
Yeah, you heard 2 years ago
I think the "cry it out" method only teaches them that when they cry for help, no one comes. It's not self-soothing, it's crying themselves to sleep, and they only sleep through sheer exhaustion.
#23
Izzy 2 years ago
LOVE THIS! the whole 'don't talk back to me' is the worst. the kid is trying to explain themselves, answer sth u literally asked, stand up for themselves, the parent refusing to have a proper conversation + just wants to one-sidedly shout at the kid, or the parent realised they're actually in the wrong/mistaken + can't take it. kids' emotions, feelings, thoughts, rights etc are so grossly dismissed + negated. why are you, the parent, allowed to say your bit + express urself/ur emotions etc but the kid (still learning to communicate, understand feelings, regulate behaviour, learn social skills etc) has to just stay shut up, take a shouting/berated, can't defend themselves, + bottle every thought/feeling up? then they wonder why their kid doesn't want to open up/talk to them, express emotions etc later in life. i'm a firm believer of 'if u wouldn't do it to an adult, don't do to a kid'. u wouldn't yell at an adult + then shut them down. why would u do it to a kid? esp one at ur mercy?
If you’re ready for some new ground rules, start with a few simple ones to share with your child. “If they are older you can develop these together. Make sure you are also happy to follow the rules (when appropriate) and explain why these are important,” Dr. Mundy said, adding that you should try to stick to the boundaries so they would become habitual in your household.
#25
Alana Voeks 2 years ago
My parents used to say "do you want to help with this work?" And when we'd answer no, they'd tell us to entertain ourselves. Worked well
#26
Keali Lamb 2 years ago (edited)
My parents had 5 kids. All but one of us participated in 3 sports a piece as well as all of us being involved in multiple clubs. Money wasn’t ever really the problem but the scheduling conflicts were absolute torture on everyone. Edit: spelling
“If you come up with struggles in setting these boundaries, don’t panic. Think about why this might be, whether you are being too rigid or too permissive, whether you need more time connecting with your child, etc. Always try to take responsibility for what you did wrong and repair your relationship with your child,” Dr. Mundy concluded.
#27
Mary Jeffries 2 years ago
I can’t stand all that noise. I guess I was one of those parents but it was because I couldn’t handle the noise.
#28
Laugh or not 2 years ago
Kids get messy, it is the way of life. As long as it doesn't go into unhygienic level, let them be messy.
#29
Alana Voeks 2 years ago
Children will rarely, if ever, be the same as the one before. Oh sure, I wouldn't get myself into a rage if they didn't have a third bottle ready for me the instant my first was done (as was the case with my brother), but I didn't eat a whole lot, so I would wake them in the middle of the night. And where my brother was very strong willed and head strong, I really should have gotten therapy and never did. Never get into a rhythm from your first child for your second.
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What do you think ?
Ivana Bašić 2 years ago
If she's with them from the start, she will love dogs. Did everything right. She does like dogs, but she's a cat person, although the dogs adored her and the cats didn't even like her when she was a baby (normal, babies are loud).
Cats Are Pretty Cool I Guess 2 years ago
The girl avoided your indogtrination! The cats and their loyal slaves shall take over the world! MEOWAHAHAHAHA!
Load More Replies... Tiredofpayingforothers 2 years ago
There is no manual for raising kids. Like adults, kids are all different. You have to adjust your parenting for each child.
Alana Voeks 2 years ago
I commented this on one of the comments earlier, but never have any expectations from the get go, except that your child will hopefully be healthy. This will make you be able to roll with the punches better. If you have a line of expectations in your head, especially the stricter ones like not having any electronics in the house, you're setting yourself up for a horrible time. Just as your child will be learning how to live and enjoy life, you'll be learning how to be a parent. Just takes a step at a time (or sometimes a 30 yard dash, but that's besides the point).
Mike Beck 2 years ago
"Because I said so". If that's your best argument then you've failed. My step-daughter will have a generally intelligent conversation about why or why not and she'll keep grinding away until I fall back on that. I did (she's now an adult and gets adult consideration) encourage discussion but dang...
Serion X jr 2 years ago
Honestly, I'm thinking of just going back to our ancestral genes and bringing them everywhere with me. Sleeping with them, eating with them, and overall doing everything with them until they eventually start to wander. At that stage, I'll let them join me in what I'm doing, but they will want to play with other kids. I think babies cry so much because they aren't supposed to be just left alone in the forest. Aka crib. They'd be eaten. So they cry as a self defense. I believe that taking them everywhere will fix this until they're old enough to explore on their own. But, who knows, I could be totally wrong.
Serion X jr 2 years ago
And by take I mean carry. I will carry them weather it be by backpack or piggy back, or side hold. Body to body contact as it is in the wild.
Load More Replies...
Ivanka van der Reest 2 years ago (edited)
I think most important thing is that as a parent you don't try to be perfect and know from the start that you'll mess up. And that's okay. No parent is perfect. As long as you do your best to raise your child to be a decent person and raise them with love and respect, you're doing a great job. And doing your best is all you can do. There's no guarantee that your child will actually turn out decent. Some people break contact with their parents even if the parents really did raise their children with love. Or turn out horrible and selfish. As a parent you'll always find that you could have done certain things better. And fat chance your children will hold certain things against you. It's normal. I hold things against my parents. My children will hold things against me. My grandchildren will hold things against them. But, one may just hope love and forgiveness is enough.
Ein Steinbeck 2 years ago
Your kids will eat what everyone else eats as long as 1) you don't cave in and give them another option, and (2) you don't eat weird s**t that normal humans don't eat, like Natto and overly spicy stuff. I hear people complain about this s**t and then ask them what they make that their kids won't eat... and it's like... no s**t, I wouldn't eat that garbage either.
Briana Landers 2 years ago
Children are people and are learning just like you!!! :) Thats what i love about the little boogers. Cant wait to be a parent someday.
ben killeen 2 years ago
The reality of having a child, if you don’t want to change anything in your life or love your freedoms, don’t have kids! It’s a choice to have them as well as everything that comes with. A lot of people have them for selfish reasons and then don’t do justice to the child, as it doesn’t turn out how they imagined.
Stacy B 2 years ago
When we found out we were having twins I thought "yay" this is going to be so easy. How hard could it be to care for one more tiny nugget? NOT! I was so wrong! I'm not sure how I survived the first 6 months but somehow I did. By the way, I already had kids and my twins were a complete surprise. They are 13 now.
Ivana Bašić 2 years ago
If she's with them from the start, she will love dogs. Did everything right. She does like dogs, but she's a cat person, although the dogs adored her and the cats didn't even like her when she was a baby (normal, babies are loud).
Cats Are Pretty Cool I Guess 2 years ago
The girl avoided your indogtrination! The cats and their loyal slaves shall take over the world! MEOWAHAHAHAHA!
Load More Replies... Tiredofpayingforothers 2 years ago
There is no manual for raising kids. Like adults, kids are all different. You have to adjust your parenting for each child.
Alana Voeks 2 years ago
I commented this on one of the comments earlier, but never have any expectations from the get go, except that your child will hopefully be healthy. This will make you be able to roll with the punches better. If you have a line of expectations in your head, especially the stricter ones like not having any electronics in the house, you're setting yourself up for a horrible time. Just as your child will be learning how to live and enjoy life, you'll be learning how to be a parent. Just takes a step at a time (or sometimes a 30 yard dash, but that's besides the point).
Mike Beck 2 years ago
"Because I said so". If that's your best argument then you've failed. My step-daughter will have a generally intelligent conversation about why or why not and she'll keep grinding away until I fall back on that. I did (she's now an adult and gets adult consideration) encourage discussion but dang...
Serion X jr 2 years ago
Honestly, I'm thinking of just going back to our ancestral genes and bringing them everywhere with me. Sleeping with them, eating with them, and overall doing everything with them until they eventually start to wander. At that stage, I'll let them join me in what I'm doing, but they will want to play with other kids. I think babies cry so much because they aren't supposed to be just left alone in the forest. Aka crib. They'd be eaten. So they cry as a self defense. I believe that taking them everywhere will fix this until they're old enough to explore on their own. But, who knows, I could be totally wrong.
Serion X jr 2 years ago
And by take I mean carry. I will carry them weather it be by backpack or piggy back, or side hold. Body to body contact as it is in the wild.
Load More Replies... Ivanka van der Reest 2 years ago (edited)
I think most important thing is that as a parent you don't try to be perfect and know from the start that you'll mess up. And that's okay. No parent is perfect. As long as you do your best to raise your child to be a decent person and raise them with love and respect, you're doing a great job. And doing your best is all you can do. There's no guarantee that your child will actually turn out decent. Some people break contact with their parents even if the parents really did raise their children with love. Or turn out horrible and selfish. As a parent you'll always find that you could have done certain things better. And fat chance your children will hold certain things against you. It's normal. I hold things against my parents. My children will hold things against me. My grandchildren will hold things against them. But, one may just hope love and forgiveness is enough.
Ein Steinbeck 2 years ago
Your kids will eat what everyone else eats as long as 1) you don't cave in and give them another option, and (2) you don't eat weird s**t that normal humans don't eat, like Natto and overly spicy stuff. I hear people complain about this s**t and then ask them what they make that their kids won't eat... and it's like... no s**t, I wouldn't eat that garbage either.
Briana Landers 2 years ago
Children are people and are learning just like you!!! :) Thats what i love about the little boogers. Cant wait to be a parent someday.
ben killeen 2 years ago
The reality of having a child, if you don’t want to change anything in your life or love your freedoms, don’t have kids! It’s a choice to have them as well as everything that comes with. A lot of people have them for selfish reasons and then don’t do justice to the child, as it doesn’t turn out how they imagined.
Stacy B 2 years ago
When we found out we were having twins I thought "yay" this is going to be so easy. How hard could it be to care for one more tiny nugget? NOT! I was so wrong! I'm not sure how I survived the first 6 months but somehow I did. By the way, I already had kids and my twins were a complete surprise. They are 13 now.
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