An Uncomplicated Life Blog: 3 Myths of Parenting

Monday, November 16, 2015

3 Myths of Parenting

Some parenting advice is legitimate, and some of it is complete nonsense. Here are the 3 biggest parenting myths, busted!


When you're pregnant and in those first few months of having a new baby, EVERYONE and their mom will tell you all about parenting, how to do things, and what to "watch out for" or "just wait for." I happen to believe that most of these folks have good intentions... However, now that I've been a pregnant lady and parent for several years, I have to say: So much of what they said was bunk! I feel the need to dispel these bogus parenting myths.

Have you ever been given bad parenting advice? This article calls out some of the worst parenting advice and busts 3 of the biggest parenting myths


3 Myths of Parenting:

Myth 1: "Just wait until your kid starts walking - then you'll REALLY have your hands full!"
Reality: Ummm, nope. In fact, my hands are quite literally empty, because my child can now walk instead of me lugging his 30 pound body around. In fact, my life got exponentially EASIER when Henry started to walk. I have no idea why people say it will become some sort of challenging feat when your toddler starts walking, but it's BS. It's amazing. Don't want them going into certain rooms in the house? Close the door and baby proof it so they can't get in. Problem solved. Walk on, little babies, it makes our jobs as parents so much easier!

Myth 2: "You won't really mind or notice or smell it when your own child vomits - you just clean it up and move on."
Reality: Are you even kidding, vomiting is DISGUSTING. Yes I notice! Yes it smells! Yes I wish I were anywhere but there, cleaning it up! Yes I cover my nose and try not to gag too! Whoever the heck said this "wasn't that big of a deal" must be a nurse or nurses aid and gets puked on regularly. Let me tell you; you notice and it's disgusting and it ruins your day.

Bad parenting advice called out and parenting myths busted!
Walking is rad. Vomiting is not.

Myth 3: "You'll always think your own child is the cutest."
Reality: Now I was graced with an insanely handsome boy, but let me tell you: He looked like an alien when he came out. It took a few weeks for him to get cute. And he's not that cute in the mornings, either. And he's certainly not cute when he fusses or tantrums. I also have some less than flattering photos of him, none of which will make it to this blog or social media, because I have enough sense to not post them. So, no. You won't always think your child is the cutest, not if you're connected with reality!

Everyone has their own ideas about parenting, and that's totally the way it should be! But there were some consistent themes in the advice I was given when Henry was young that simply weren't true. In fact, the reality turned out to be the exact opposite of these so-called parenting myths I was told nonstop about! Have you ever been given completely wrong, or just bad, parenting or pregnancy advice? I want to hear about it!

24 comments:

  1. Hah, these are great. THanks for making me smile this morning!

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  2. I love how you always keep it real for us! That's like when people tell me disgusting stories and they are all like "well it's okay you're a nurse". Ummmmmmm that still doesn't make me want to hear that story! Yes to the walking, exactly now you don't have to carry but hopefully he still will sit in a stroller! Speaking of, which double stroller did you get?

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  3. Haha - I certainly think my kid is the cutest MOST of the time, but when I look back on pictures, I'm like..."Okay, maybe he had a little ugly phase."

    Sarah Noel | www.sarahsmirks.com

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  4. This is hilarious! And so true! The vomit! My friends told me I'd get use to it...yeah no! It was always nasty! LifeAsLex

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  5. Hahaha! YES to all of these. I'm no parent, but parenting advice just kind of annoys me unless the advice is asked for.

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  6. Hahaha! YES to all of these. I'm no parent, but parenting advice just kind of annoys me unless the advice is asked for.

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  7. haha I loved this! My daughter is working on standing and enjoys walking with her stroller toy. It's so cool to see, and it's nice that she wants to be independent.

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  8. Amen! Amen. I cannot wait for E to walk so that I have both hands free. And the vomit amen again. It's not fun, its does want to make me gag and I will always smell it.

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  9. Cleaning up vomit is NEVER fun. I think I distract myself with worry that my baby is sick and that helps me not notice it so much. Although, one night my son threw up a couple of times (and a couple of times on me) and for a week I swear I could still smell it in his hair. That's when I put him down and let him run around so I didn't have to smell it anymore!

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  10. I have to agree with you on myth #2. I have to hold my breath and ignore that it is vomit or I will get sick too! :(

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  11. What an adorable post! I already plan to have my husband clean up the vomit when our future kids get sick. He cleans up the dogs' now. Little does he know, it's only going to get better!

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  12. Lol, all baby's look like wrinkly old men as newborns, thankfully they get much cuter! And eeew, who says you don't mind your own kid's vomit? It's still nasty. I want to know WHY they always manage to vomit down my front in my bra, in my face, or down my back, why can't they vomit on blankets or the floor, why always over me!?!?

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  13. This made me laugh! My little guy is a stud now, but until he fattened up around 9 weeks he looked weird. Like a plucked chicken, lol!

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  14. HAHAHA, so true! While in the moment I think there is no one cuter than my kids, I look back on some pictures and think, "Why didn't I know they were so awkward?". Sad but true. Oh, ad vomit...NEVER going to be okay with that smell. EVER.

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  15. #2 - gross not sure how i'll deal with that! xo, Biana -BlovedBoston

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  16. I love hearing these myths and you busting them!

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  17. I haven't experienced vomit yet thankfully but I am less disgusted by poop than I thought I would be. Great debunking!

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  18. I haven't experienced vomit yet thankfully but I am less disgusted by poop than I thought I would be. Great debunking!

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  19. Bahahaha! This is SO on point! There are so many things people have told me trying to convince me to have kids. I'm a nanny (and have been for over 10 years)...I'm pretty sure people just become delusional!

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  20. OMG yes to the vomit times 1000! The poop didn't bother me as much, but the vomit! Ew. Just the worst. I love that people feel like they can just give out free advice and expect you to take it. My MIL told me to put my pinky in baby girl's mouth when she was first born b/c she wouldn't take the pacifier. Worst decision I ever made. She used my finger as her binky for over a year and still has an obsession with holding it constantly. When we cuddle she just plays with it all the time. So my free advice, don't ever let your kid use your pinky as a paci. That's as much unsolicited advice as anyone will ever get out of me.

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  21. Goodness, I am SO excited for Caleb to start walking because my boy is HEAVY! It will certainly allow me to not have my hands full. ;-)

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  22. This is such a great post! So true! I am glad I am not the only one who doesn't always think their kid is the cutest. I mean, I am so in love with them; but, I am not delusional! My son definitely looked a little worse for wear after delivery and then had the worst baby acne his first 6 weeks! And yes to the walking! Ugh! Carrying around a heavy kid is no easy task! Love how you always keep it real! Not sure if you already chose a stroller (I saw Amanda's question;) but, we have both the City Mini Select and the Bob doublewide if you have any questions. I have also used the Uppababy Vista and the BabyJogger City doublewide while nannying (and logged a lot of miles on them.) Again, only if you have any questions! Knowing you, you have probably researched it all and chosen an awesome one!

    Annie- All Things Big And Small

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  23. Haha! This made me laugh. My husband has to do the sick clean up because I can't even...

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  24. i lol'd so hard at 'my hands are quite literally empty'. so true!
    and omg... i know some people who think their baby is adorable, and it isn't. i know that sounds horrible, but it's true. I'm worried my kid will be ugly and we will think it's cute hahaha. I was a super ugly baby, KC was super cute, hopefully it looks like him!

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