Now, as a parent, you may have your own idea about the two worst parenting mistakes you can make. Or perhaps you are perfect, and don’t make any parenting mistakes. However, please consider these questions; Who cleans the frying pan? Do your children’s board books need to be in alphabetical order? Is a bed really made if there are wrinkles in the covers?
Do you follow your child around your house picking up everything they drop? Or do you leave the dropped items on the floor where they lay and have the child who dropped them pick them up?
When your child spills milk on the counter, who cleans it up?
Parenting Mistake Number 1
The “Do Over,” Parenting Mistake
When your child puts away their books on the bookcase you rearrange them in alphabetical order. This is a classic parenting mistake. You don’t just want your child to put the books away, you want the books stacked in alphabetical order and you want the books to be right side up.
Relax Mom. Relax Dad. The books are on the shelf, “Let it go.”
When your child makes their own bed, you go in after them and remake the bed. The cover was a little crooked, and the sheet underneath wasn’t folded neatly. As soon as the child leaves the room, you strip the covers off and re-make the bed.
If a book doesn’t make it on the shelf, get the child to put it away, and if the bed wasn’t made neatly, teach the child how to pull the covers straight. Don’t do it for them.
As your child gets older they will be able to put the books away and make their beds neater. Remember to be kind, and help them learn. But, let them learn. Don’t be a “Do Over,” parent.
Parenting Mistake Number 2
The Clean Up After Your Child Parenting Mistake
Washing the frying pan your child left on the stove after they make scrambled eggs is Parenting mistake Number 2.
Today, a frying pan was left on the stove. It sat there laughing at me all day. “Ha, I know you want to clean me. You can’t bear to have something dirty sitting on the stove. Can you now? Go ahead, wash me.”
Your love language of acts of service is hindering your child’s ability to mature and take care of themselves as an adult. Are you planning on moving in with your child when they move out? Will you continue to clean up after them? What about their roommates? Are you giving them good life skills?”
It took all of my will power to leave the dirty frying pan on the stove. I prayed for strength.
For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.
Philippians 4:13 NLT
Yes, everything. Yes, God could help me leave a dirty a frying pan on the stove. Please help me make my child learn to take care of their own messes. Please help me leave the books upside down on the bookcase. Please dear God, let me live with a bed that is made with wrinkles. Please God, please.
Why These Two Mistakes are so hard to avoid
Mistake Number 1. The Do Over Parenting Mistake is hard to avoid, because we have a certain way we think things should be done. We may think there is only one right way for the books to be on the shelf. We may think a bed is only made if their are no wrinkles in the covers.
Parents may forget that a child may not have the attention spam or the ability to make a bed with no wrinkles.
Mistake Number 2. The Clean Up After Your Child Parenting Mistake is hard to avoid because parents want to show their child they love them by doing acts of service.
However, the kindest act of service you can every do for your child is to teach them to take care of themselves. q
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What do you think is the worst parenting mistake? Please let me know in the comments. I would love to chat.
