As a mom, most of my conversations revolve around my kids. I discuss them with my friends, family, professionals, random strangers and sometimes, when I am lonely, the dog. I get a lot of questions about them. Obviously the normal ones about age, size, ability and nearly everyone asks about their eyes. But I also get some oddballs. Here are my top 9. Some give me a chuckle. Some are informative. Most are annoying.
My top 9 questions I get about my kids:
1-Are you worried that Emily doesn't speak? She does, at home. In fact, she rarely shuts up. I have gotten this question from a couple of family members and friends. One even suggested I send her to daycare for a few days so she could "loosen up". My super clingy little girl does not warm up quickly to others. So she doesn't talk. I'm not concerned. She's 2. Take a chill pill.
2-How do you get them to eat what you make? I don't offer them anything else(with the exception of steak because I'm not wasting good steak on kids who can't chew it.) It really is that simple. Emily has always just eaten whatever she is given because she is a piglet. Molly has learned. She doesn't like supper then she can go to bed hungry. I leave her supper on the table but I don't make her stay there. She can get down but when she gets hungry, that cold dinner will still be sitting there waiting. If she asks politely I will warm it up for her. This happened about 3 times last fall. Now she just eats what she is given. *Note-I never make her eat the foods that she hates(broccoli, cauliflower, asparagus and celery). It's a texture issue for her and I won't make her gag just to prove a point. I also never feed her berries, citrus or melons because it makes her break out in a rash on her mouth and tongue.
3-How do you get them to drink water? I don't have anything else. I don't have juice in the house. I don't make kool aid. I don't let them have pop unless we are at mcdonalds. They get milk at breakfast and supper but if they want a drink at any other time of day, it's water. Simple.
4-Are you worried that Molly won't be able to compete with other kindergartners if she doesn't go to preschool? Nope.
5-How did you sleep train? The first time I was asked this I had to look it up. I hadn't heard the phrase "sleep train" before that. The answer is, I put my kids to bed and walked away. Starting at about 4 months. They fell asleep on their own(without crying because they were still very young) and slept almost all the way through the night. I didn't read any books or blogs or whatever. I asked my mom. Because she is the real expert.
6-Are you going to homeschool? I usually say I don't know. Sometimes I say no. My answer changes based on who asks. If I am being asked just so that particular person can tell me all the reasons that homeschooling is a bad idea, I just tell them we have no plans to do so. 'Cuz we don't. Our eldest is 3. We've got some time.
7-So you are one of those weird attachment parents? This one made me laugh when I was asked. The only reason I was even asked was because I was using a sling. I am not really sure that qualifies me. For the record, no, I don't think of myself as an AP. I sleep with my kids sometimes but there is no family bed. I wore my kids because it was comfy and convenient for me and the babes loved it. I tried nursing but even if it had worked I would not have nursed my child until kindergarten. Just not my thing.(No judgment intended for anyone who does). I am just a mom who is trying to parent my children the best way for them. I have no philosophy.
8-So when are you going to have your next baby? This one bugs me. It's just too personal. And I don't know. Probably about 35 weeks and 3 days after the day of conception. So ask me again when I am pregnant. I gotta figure out a way to say that so it doesn't sound snarky. I am trying to work on my snarkiness.
9-Do they really need another pair of shoes? Yes. Always yes. Sometimes Daddies just don't get it!
What are your favorite/most irritating/silliest questions you get about your kids?
