Parent Poll: I can't believe I did that!!!

[lindrusso]

I thought it might be fun to share our most embarassing moments as new parents with the mommies-to-be. It can be nice to know that you're not the only one who felt clueless in the beginning!

I know there must be many moments for me, but one that sticks out for me is when we took our first son home from the hospital. We were having the HARDEST time getting the car seat in the car at the hospital. The seat belt just wasn't long enough - but we finally got it in. When we got home, I finally realized that we had the car seat in facing forward. Duh! We had read all there was to read and we knew better!

So, lesson number one is - put your car seat in well in advance - when you are well rested and thinking clearly!!!

[lindrusso]

Posting that question reminded me of something funny I once read. Now some of them ring truer than others, but you can probably relate to some of it!

Having Babies

Yes, parenthood changes everything. But parenthood also changes with each baby. Here, some of the ways having a second and third child differs from having your first:

Your Clothes

1st baby: You begin wearing maternity clothes as soon as your OB/GYN confirms your pregnancy.
2nd baby: You wear your regular clothes for as long as possible.
3rd baby: Your maternity clothes ARE your regular clothes.

The Baby's Name

1st baby: You pore over baby-name books and practice pronouncing and writing combinations of all your favorites.
2nd baby: Someone has to name his or her kid after your great-aunt Mavis,right? It might as well be you.
3rd baby: You open a name book, close your eyes, and see where your finger points.

Preparing for the Birth

1st baby: You practice your breathing religiously.
2nd baby: You don't bother practicing because you remember that last time, breathing didn't do a thing.
3rd baby: You ask for an epidural in your 8th month.

The Layette

1st baby: You pre-wash your newborn's clothes, color- coordinate them,and fold them neatly in the baby's little bureau.
2nd baby: You check to make sure that the clothes are clean and discard only the ones with the darkest stains.
3rd baby: Boys can wear pink, can't they?

Worries

1st baby: At the first sign of distress--a whimper, a frown--you pick up the baby.
2nd baby: You pick the baby up when her wails threaten to wake your firstborn.
3rd baby: You teach your 3-year-old how to rewind the mechanical swing.

Activities

1st baby: You take your infant to Baby Gymnastics, Baby Swing, and Baby Story Hour.
2nd baby: You take your infant to Baby Gymnastics.
3rd baby: You take your infant to the supermarket and the dry cleaner.

Going Out

1st baby: The first time you leave your baby with a sitter, you call home 5 times.
2nd baby: Just before you walk out the door, you remember to leave a number where you can be reached.
3rd baby: You leave instructions for the sitter to call only if she sees blood.

At Home

1st baby: You spend a good bit of every day just gazing at the baby.
2nd baby: You spend a bit of every day watching to be sure your older child isn't squeezing, poking, or hitting the baby.
3rd baby: You spend a little bit of every day hiding from the children.


I often wonder if my second child will notice the huge discrepancy between the number of photos and the amount of video between him and his older brother!

[sal]

I received one stroller for a shower gift, and we were tight financially. The stroller I received was an umbrella stroller, not one that allows you to lay the baby down. For about 3 weeks I was taking a tiny infant out for strolls etc. kind of all hunched over (sitting up) with one of those head thingies as support - (it's been awhile, my terminology is not up to snuff). Finally, my best friend saw me, had a fit and let me borrow her "reclining" stroller. I was not a "young" parent agewise, and I had done a lot of reading, but I guess my mind was just elsewhere. I started to cry (those hormones!) and felt so stupid. On a good note - she will be 8 yrs old very soon http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/wink.gif. sally

[Kristilyn1]

I think I've told this one on here before, but it's pretty stupid--so I'll say it again.

I took my oldest (18 mos. at the time)bike riding with me every night after work. I put his helmet on, strapped into his seat and then realized I had left my helmet about 10 steps away on the counter. I let go of the bike to pick up my helmet. No, the bike did not have a kickstand and the bike fell over, with him in it. I felt terrible--as well I should. Just wasn't thinking.

Unfortunately, I am incredibly clumsy and I am always doing clumsy things that end up with me and my kids conking heads together or some other such thing.......It's a terrible thing to lose one's mind.

Kristi

[MrsReber]

Cute thread, lindrusso! I love it! Thanks- now I guess I won't feel so stupid the first time I do something stupid. I still can't get over the fact that once we take this child home, our lives will forever be changed. We just don't even know how yet! I hope to read some more stories!

[HARRYET]

O.K. I'll jump in with an embarassing story. When my son (now 13) was about 1 he was crying, crying and crying, my DH and I walked him, tried to feed him, changed him,took his temp., you name it we did it, to no avail. We continued to walk him and were getting ready to call the Doctors, then my DH took off his sneakers and his little toes were all curled and jammed in his little sneakers, viola no more crying! boy did we feel stupid!

Ann

[BeckyM]

Since I don't have kids yet, I'll have to tell a story my next door neighbor told me. She just had her third child in November, and she is a nurse in Newborn Intensive Care, so she is very experienced in dealing with babies. Not too long after the birth of her son, she was very tired taking care of him and her two daughters (ages 4 and 2). He kept waking up in the middle of the night, so she kept him in a bassinet by their bed, and she would just pull him into bed with her to feed him his bottle. One night while he was eating, she fell asleep, and she awoke to a thud and the baby screaming. He had rolled out of bed! She felt so terrible for falling asleep and letting that happen -- especially since she's supposed to know better! But the baby doesn't seem to be damaged from the fall, and she seems to have gotten over her feelings of shame and guilt. So, things like that can happen to even the most prepared mothers!

[SusanD]

These stories are great! It just goes to show how resilient babies & toddlers really are. I'm sure I'll have some goofs of my own to share.

When I was about 3, I was in the passenger seat while my mom was driving. That was back when they didn't use car seats or seat belts, and my mom turned a corner and I fell out the door! Fortunately she wasn't going very fast and I wasn't scarred for life or anything, but it does make a good story.

[Leslie w]

Have any of you every put the baby in the car seat and then driven off without belting the baby in? I've done that a few times. I also can't tell you how many times my girls have fallen off the changing table or rolled off the couch. Fortunately, they fell onto a carpeted floor and have never been injured. And remember all you moms. Silence means disaster! Yesterday I left my 2 year old alone in her room while I prepared dinner. She got ahold of a bottle of baby powder and completely dusted the entire room w/ it. It took hours to clean up, she left nothing unturned. Not even the clothes in her drawer. I was wondering why it was so quiet in her room. I figured she was tearing up a good book.

[Leslie w]

Have any of you every put the baby in the car seat and then driven off without belting the baby in? I've done that a few times. I also can't tell you how many times my girls have fallen off the changing table or rolled off the couch. Fortunately, they fell onto a carpeted floor and have never been injured. And remember all you moms. Silence means disaster! Yesterday I left my 2 year old alone in her room while I prepared dinner. She got ahold of a bottle of baby powder and completely dusted the entire room w/ it. It took hours to clean up, she left nothing unturned. Not even the clothes in her drawer. I was wondering why it was so quiet in her room. I figured she was tearing up a good book.

[Leslie w]

OOps! How did that get posted twice? Maybe some kind forum person will delete one for me.