We are all *secretly* THAT parent. The one who does the things they are not supposed to, because they do not meet social conformities, or our expectations that we ignorantly held before parenthood. Though our Instagram paints a pretty picture of days out and smiling toddlers, we all fall prey to being that parent that we vowed we wouldn’t before pregnancy misshaped us.

Below are a few of my own confessions. It’s time to come clean folks, because I am that parent who…

1. Used to more than often let my baby watch nursery rhymes whilst eating. I will do anything to keep food entering into his mouth during breakfast, lunch and dinner.
2. Super glued many toys and decorative ornaments back together countless times, when they were broken by Baby Z.
3. Washed my toddler’s hands as soon as he stroked a stray cat.
4. Put a scarf around my son’s head, or wrapped the dupatta around him like a Sari, to imagine what he would look like if he was a girl. (Sorry, Baby Z, I couldn’t resist!)
5. Put my spectacles on him to see if he resembled Harry Potter. (He does!)
6. Co-slept for as much time as it was comfortable for me, not for how long the books told me to.
7. Fed him something sweet. Whether it’s a *reluctantly given* bite of my Ferrero Rocher, or an entire Jalebi, it happens. Naughty Mummy!
8. Takes photos of our little ones. Lots of them. All the time. Whilst they nap, eat, drink, play, bath, run, walk, jump, swim, smile, laugh, scream, pout, cry….we just keep on clicking.
9. Stick to following the Holy Grail of Parenthood, also named the “schedule” or “routine”. I have literally broken into a sweat/ go into panic mode/ cease to function, if our daily routines are required to change even the tiniest bit. The routine keeps my baby happy and chirpy, and so I AM NOT ASHAMED.
10. Stress out over whether he has had his 5 a day, and if I think he hasn’t, then vow to compensate the following day.
11. Bribe him with things I probably shouldn’t. Bribery just works wonders when I need his nails to be cut, and that means ALL of them, not just one foot.

Are there any confessions that you would like to share? Feel free to mention them in the comments section below, because we are ALL that parent who…