I'm probably the last mom you would expect to hear quoting the 10 Commandments. I gave up on organized religion a long time ago. And yet, there's some pretty solid advice in there for kids. No one wants to raise the kid who kills or steals, right?
We've modified it a bit for our family to cut out the overtly religious mentions, but my kid knows there are some hard and fast rules you just don't break in life. It's got me wondering: what if there was a 10 Commandments for moms? Rules that have nothing to do with religion but rules we just don't break? What would that look like?
I sat down and thought about it, and here's what I came up with. Here are my Ten Commandments as a mom, the things I need to remember to do (or not do) if I want to raise a good kid:
Thou Shalt:
Give in and read another chapter at bed time once in awhile, even when you're bone tired.
Apologize when you're wrong.
Let them eat candy for dinner at least once a year.
Take them outside long after they should be in bed so you can watch the stars together.
Help when they ask for it nicely (but feel free to ignore them when they whine incessantly).
More from The Stir: 25 All-Time Favorite Mommy Confessions
Thou Shalt Not:
Forget to pack your kid's lunch on field trip day.
Say no to another kiss and another hug at bedtime.
Eat the last cookie.
Be too honest about what you're thinking.
Forget what it was like to be a kid.
What's on your list of mom commandments?
Image by Jeanne Sager
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Comments 23
Thou shalt turn off the computer. Thou shalt turn off all screens in the house (and before you scream hypocrisy, my kids are not at home right now!)
Thou shalt not flog thyself for not keeping up with that mom over there, whether she's a SAHM, and you're a WorkForEveryDamnCent, or she's a world-traveling working mom, and you're a home-schooling, couponing nester. Thou shalt do the best thy can, and love thy child - and LAUGH with thy child - through every minute.
Agree with every comment above and the original blog. This is a Stir first!
Thou shall shut up and listen to them.
Thou shall ignore them to give them room to learn to do themselves.
Be their cheer leader.
Tell them you love them even when duct tape and locked doors are starting to sound good(but never do)
Candy for dinner? Ummm... no.
Everything else, OK. Just can't see the point in that one.
Thou shalt trust thine instincts, you know better than anyone Thou shall NOT try to "out do or be like" any other mom, you and your child are unique Thou shall NOT forget that growing up is WORK! Thou shall respect your child just like you want your child to respect you and the best...DEFINITELY let them eat candy for dinner once in awhile, they are only a child once, let them be children!