Don’t Tell me to Sleep When the Baby Sleeps

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I appreciate advice and wisdom from those that have life experience. However, I am not fond of most parenting advice clichés. For example, I am 100% sure that whoever first coined the phrase “Sleep when the baby sleeps” must have had a housekeeper and cook. That is the only explanation for this piece of advice. For me, those short bursts of time were the only chance I got to wash all the laundry the baby went through. Do you have more than one child?  Forget it! As soon as the baby is asleep you’re frantically trying to take care of anything your toddler needs. And have you ever made the mistake of falling asleep with a toddler around? That’s usually a onetime thing and you learn your lesson!

Here are other parenting clichés I’ve heard that make me cringe:

Don’t worry about cleaning – it will still be there tomorrow. Exactly. Only tomorrow will have yesterday’s mess, today’s mess, and tomorrow’s mess all in one big pile. If I don’t do laundry, what are the kids going to wear to school? If I don’t wash the dishes, what will my kids eat off of? If I don’t use the vacuum or mop, our feet will get very dirty. If I don’t wipe off the table, it will get gross. So, yes, I understand that I can’t be consumed by cleaning but unfortunately, I really do have to take the time away from my kids to do that. I’ve learned to accept my house won’t look the way I want it to for a few more years. I’ve learned some weekends are for having fun or snuggles and movies. My kids have learned, as well, that sometimes parents must clean. And that if they help, it gets done faster. They’ve also learned they like it clean. It makes it easier for them to have fun and make new messes!!

They grow up so fast. Oh my, is there any more cliché saying than this one? Everyone says it. I have said it. It’s so very true! The problem with this saying is that I can hear it a hundred times and will never truly understand it. My oldest is six. I swear she was just born last week! I try my hardest to remember every day that they “grow up so fast” but I know at each milestone I’ll reminisce about how they were just a baby and someone will say it yet again. 

Life is short. This one bothers me personally because I have a personal experience with it. My father was killed tragically when I was eight months pregnant with my first child. I have lived through the experience of someone you know and love being there one moment and gone the next. It’s not this saying is wrong, per say. It’s that it hurts so bad every time I hear it. Thankfully I’ve learned from it and I truly do my best to make the most of each day. 

Always kiss your kids goodnight. You mean you want me to make physical contact with a landmine? A child, that if awoken, will somehow have the energy of a puma and be awake for hours? No, thank you. Here’s the thing, if I am home when my kids go to bed then absolutely. However, with my work schedule, I’m rarely home. I tiptoe into their room to check on them and whisper I love them. But I’m not touching them. I’m tired! And they are too so I don’t want to wake them. 

Do you relate to any of these?  What parenting clichés make you cringe? 

 

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Amy Blair
Hello! My name is Amy! I am married to my wonderful husband who works at Target! How awesome is that!?! I have three very beautiful girls. Savannah is my oldest and my artistic one. Lacie is the middle one and is my wild child with the biggest heart. Emma is littlest one who acts and thinks like an adult. I work full time managing a team of specialists at a call center. I'm completely addicted to Iced Chai Lattes and Starbucks. I love getting out and about as much as our hectic schedule allows - either exploring new places or revisiting our tried and true favorites!

4 COMMENTS

  1. AMEN to the “don’t worry about cleaning – it will be there tomorrow” – I SO do not want multiple days worth of dishes piling up in my sink!!

    • Right!? I didn’t get all my laundry folded this weekend because my oldest really needed some attention. And that’s ok. But the kitchen was clean before i went to bed Sunday night! That much I needed!

  2. A big resounding “YES” to all of this! I know people generally mean well when they say things like this, but sometimes it’s better just not to say anything at all 😉

    • Yes! I’m all for advice – I’ve learned a lot this way. But sometimes – I feel more like it’s a guilt trip than helpful! I have enough of that on my own LOL!

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