Do you ever feel like the only parent who nags?

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I do. It's almost always me reminding the kids to do their homework, eat their fruit and vegetables, take their vitamin, get ready for school, take showers, brush their teeth, etc. etc. I admit that I need to scale back on the nagging, at the risk of taking on too much responsibility for my kids (and/or turning into mere annoying white noise that they want to ignore). But at the same time, these are things the kids NEED to do, and I have moments when I feel resentful that I am cast in this role much more than my husband is. This isn't meant as a dad-bashing post at all... my husband is an awesome father and does many things for my boys, including disciplining them when they misbehave on his watch. It's just that more of the things he does tend to be un-naggy in their eyes, like playing ball, doing silly dances at bedtime, taking on household chores when the kids are playing on their own and, of course, working very hard full-time so we have a regular salary and health insurance. I have fun with my boys too, of course, but I'm just wondering why I so often feel like I have to be the more serious parent. Other friends who are mothers have said they feel the same way. Is it simply because we're often around our kids more on a day-in, day-out basis, and therefore have a better grip on responsibilities they need to take care of? Is this just a female thing? What might I do to even out the balance and feel less like a stick in the mud? My husband and I did have a talk in which he agreed he would help more in this department, but it still seems to fall largely to me.

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Nagging Mom

Great Kristen! Yes, we should not feel guilty for teaching responsibility to our children (and husbands). I sometimes feel I have to chose to feel guilty (about enforcing the rules) or feeling like a slave and being taken advantage of. I chose the rules and will push away the guilt.

Susan Smigielski Acker, Community Editor

Susan Smigielski Acker

I've often felt the same way,

I've often felt the same way, but after reading your post, Alison, I thought more about it: I seriously doubt my mother felt guilty about telling me what to do or exhausted by it. She just told me, confident that she was in the right, and then moved on. I'm going to start doing that. No more guilt for being a mom and trying to teach my kids to do the right thing. Sure, it would be great if my husband stepped in more, but I'm strong: I can handle teaching them. And I'll be popping back here regularly to read my own words when I need to remind myself of my strength!

Kristen De Deyn Kirk
Editor, Mytidewatermoms.com

not friends, parents

My husband is gone so much of our children's lives while he's serving the country around the world, so I'm always the bad guy and when he's home he's the fun parent to make up for all his absences. Sometimes we have conflict because he doesn't like to see the kids grumbling when they're being made to do chores or something they aren't thrilled about (that I've asked them to do of course) or when they're crying with frustration after they've been punished for something (again, my laying down the law).

But you know what, I strive to be fair, give ample warnings, they know what to expect and there are consequences. Period. I try not to feel guilty because while I want to have a loving, open, warm and communicative relationship with my kids, they weren't put into my life for me to be their best friend, I am here to be their parent and sometimes that means I'm the bad guy. So be it. I feel good about that because I hope it will help them to be productive, kind, moral members of society and that they will grow up to appreciate the discipline plus love they received. I can only do my best.

Michelle Galvez, Community Editor

Very true

That's a great perspective, Kristen. We should be there to teach our kids to do the right things, not necessarily be popular. I'm going to remember your post too. Thank you!

Alison Johnson

Mommy Nagging

I hear you loud and clear! My husband is good for the a lot, including when they misbehave, but timing is an issue. Time to read, time for bed, time to turn off the TV, time to get ready to go... I too resent this. I once asked him if he knew their bedtime because he keep reading one more story. Since he starts work at 7:15 a.m., he is not home on school mornings. It is a pain to get them up when he has kept them up reading "one more story." Also, picking up after themselves is something I remind them more of than he. This is when I feel like a real nag. I especially felt this way the other day when my 8-year-old daughter left her after school snack wrappings on the table. Even though she had a friend over and was playing in the backyard, I called her to pick it up. I just did not want to feel like a slave. However, I doubt she will forget again. So Allison, you are in the same boat as me sounds like.

Susan Smigielski Acker




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