The mistakes we make…
When you first become a mum you know you’re not going to know it all and are bound to make some mistakes along the way. But the older my little boy gets the less I feel I know about the whole mummy world, and I’m making more mistakes than ever.
The most recent one being this week. My mum gave me a leaflet advertising brunch with Peppa and George for this Thursday. Okay, not where I’d ideally like to be spending my day off but I knew my little man would love it so planned to go, and told him we were going (another rookie error). A more experienced mum would have known this sort of thing sells out quickly, so when I phoned up on Wednesday afternoon to book a place (stop laughing, I realise now how stupid this was) of course it was fully booked. Epic fail on the Peppa front, especially when O was expecting to meet his favourite two pigs.
I should have known better after being as stupidly naïve when it came to booking his pre-school place. We had our little plan about which days he would go and arranged pick ups and drop offs with the grandparents so we were all organised (by the way he doesn’t start until January), and off I went to meet the manageress in June. Surely, 7 months in advance in long enough?
Well, apparently not. There were no morning sessions available at all and all our plans fell apart as I booked him into two of the few remaining places. I later found out a second time mum friend had had her 2 year old booked in for months! She knew the score and wasn’t going to fall into the rookie mum trap.
My other rookie mum mistakes include:
Being the only mum to send their kid into nursery in fancy dress on the fancy dress day! As I dropped him off in a full on spider costume I soon realised it wasn’t the done thing. Luckily he was too young to notice!
Spending far too much time stressing about the fact O would only eat Ella’s Kitchen pouches for about 2 months. I had visions of him taking them to primary school in his lunch box as he refused anything else. Obviously second, third (or more) time mums know this is a phase, but as a first timer it was terrifying.
Thinking M&S sell Christening outfits all year round! Nope, only in summer (because who would be crazy enough to christen their child in an Autumn or Winter month!!). I’d picked the outfit I wanted O to have months in advance but as he was a very little man in his first year I put off buying it to make sure I had the right size. On the day I went to buy it in late August there were no christening outfits to be seen. After having a mini melt-down I found a sales assistant who directed me to a rail of about 8 outfits hidden behind the new Autumn range. Luckily they had his size, but it was a very hairy moment!
I’m sure there will be lots more rookie mum mistakes made in the next few years as we start to think about primary schools and the whole friendship/other mum etiquette that comes with it. No wonder mums enjoy a glass (or 8) of wine!
And just to make myself feel better that I’m not the only one to make rookie mistakes:
A few years ago a good friend of mine told me about a little piece of advice she’d been given as her daughter was about to start primary school, “make sure you get the tights early”. Of course, she ignored this and come the last week in August she couldn’t find grey school tights for a 4 year old for love nor money. A classic rookie mum mistake.
What are your rookie mum mistakes? I’d love to hear about them!
Love this…funny but so true.
My rookie mistakes started when I’d given birth, as in I shoved my pre-pregnancy jeans in my hospital bag in the belief that I would be going home in them. Whatta mistake to make. Er, no. Had to depart in the sweaty maternity dress that I’d arrived in. I was still a teenager. Does that excuse me? *blushes*
Great post! X
Well, if they’re rookie mistakes, I keep making them so not sure what that makes me! i blame denial in my case-often I simply don’t want to think about certain things (like winter coming and no adequate clothing for either child in the house!) x
Iona@Redpeffer recently posted…Mistake?
My list is so long I wouldn’t know where to start. However I am quite shocked about the fancy dress episode. Really? I think everyone else made the mistake that day! #ThePrompt
mel @mydaysni recently posted…The Mistakes We Make
Oh gosh Z went through exactly the same phase with Ella pouches. He wouldn’t eat anything else. They do taste really nice though. I’ve just about applied for Zs school place but I know lots of people that did it when they were pregnant….!!! I felt like I was ultra late or something!
ToInfinityAndIVF recently posted…Regrets and the mistakes we make
As a first-time mum, I can relate to a good few things on your list. I too have learnt the hard way, Not to give advance notice of impending fun! #theprompt
VaiChin @RamblingThroughParenthood recently posted…The Mistake
I keep making rookie mistakes and my eldest is 12….lol
The whole motherhood thing is one big learning experience….
Kim Carberry recently posted…I’ve been sorting….
Oh, I think I’ve done most of these, in fact I still make some of them 🙂 I have definitely learnt to never tell the kids about something until it is confirmed and written in my diary in PEN though! Thanks so much for linking to #ThePrompt x
Sara (@mumturnedmom) recently posted…The Prompt 38
I have made so many mum mistakes that there isn’t enough room to list them all. ha My mum mistakes are jut about not being prepared. I now always have drinks and snacks in my handbag, as well as wet wipes and tissues. This makes a big difference!
Californian Mum in London recently posted…The Mistakes We Make…
Oh gosh, I am trying to think back at all mine. There have been many and heck, I have a nearly 3 year old in dummies and nappies so I am still making them! Fab post lovely xx
Potty Mouthed Mummy recently posted…Older | Word of the Week
Oh gosh I have so many rookie mum mistakes ahead of me! I wish I’d stayed in the midwife unit the first night Toby was born. We were sent home after 6 hours and thought it’d be nice having our first night as a family but I would have done better having breastfeeding support xx #PoCoLo
Hannah Budding Smiles recently posted…Breastvest Review and Giveaway
I recognise all of these! Where I live you need your nursery booked at least a year in advance otherwise you’ll get caught short. Rest assured you are not the only one #theprompt
Zena’s Suitcase recently posted…The Mistakes We Make…#ThePrompt
I am not yet a mum (one on the way) but I am thoroughly expecting some rookie mistakes. Glad to know I won’t be the only one out there!
Emma| frillsanddoodads.com
Emma recently posted…Maternity Clothing – Heavenly Bump
There is so much to learn in this whole parenting business! My rookie mistake (which I’ve made several times) is taking the spare clothes that have sat unused in the change bag for a fortnight out on the precise day when my son goes on to get vomit/poop/mud/food/water all over himself. Doh!
Sophie Lovett recently posted…Silent Sunday: 12th October 2014
Oh, I am always making rookie Mum mistakes! Our most recent one was that we always correct Grace’s pronunciation of words but we had been missing that she wasn’t saying ‘exactly’ properly. Lots of major backtracking at the moment! Thank you for linking to PoCoLo 🙂 x
I can not possible tell you my rookie mistakes as I WILL BE HERE ALL DAY! I love reading things like this as it makes me feel not so alone. I have learnt the not telling kids things before they happen trick though. That was is a must! x
brummymummyof2 recently posted…Eating out with toddlers. The Dream v The Reality.
Never mind the tights, it’s the second year in a row I have waited to get any school uniform kit until the last minute (they don’t grow THAT much over the summer, woman!) I am getting better though – the first year, my son had to start school in normal clothes, although this years improvement is only because he could still just about fit into last year’s clothes.
Mama Herself recently posted…Changing the Guard at Buckingham Palace, London
Ah yes. Fussy eater phase. What a lovely phase that is!
I’m still making rookie mum mistakes now with number 3. (I am not maternal at all.) I expect my mum still feels like she’s making rookie mum mistakes with me and I’m 33! I don’t think we ever stop learning and making mistakes is all part of that process. It’s more about how you deal with the resulting tantrum than the mistake 😉 x
Chrissie recently posted…What I’m Writing – Week #6
Great post. I think we have made a good deal of similar mistakes in our time. Hopefully we will be wiser with no 2. But probably not.