"I swore I would never do this (and then I had kids)."

Did you swear never to do any of these when you became a parent?

I did something the other day that I swore I would never do.

If you had asked me two years ago whether I would ever let a four-year old have her nails painted I would have wrinkled up my nose and politely told you that I don’t mind what other people do but that I wouldn’t let MY daughter.

I probably would have then had a series of rapid ( and judgemental) thoughts.

It’s too young. How vulgar. They have plenty of time to do that when they grow up. Why don’t we just allow our kids to be kids?

And then my daughter turned three.

And her life became one long fascination with pink, sparkly, “girl things.”

Jewellery and headbands, fairy wings and princess dresses. Lip-gloss and nail polish.

My life transformed. My views became irrelevant. This is how I found myself just the other day on her fourth birthday sitting side-by-side with my delicious apricot haired daughter having my toenails painted.

I’m a total low maintenance kinda girl and had never actually been to one of those nail bars before. (Seriously)

And there we were. Together we were scrubbed and polished, filed and painted.

And she smiled and giggled and laughed her way through the whole experience. She was delighted.

It’s amazing what being a parent can change in you. So many I-swear-I-would-nevers become yeses. So many not-in-my-lifetimes become todays. So many nos become yeses.

Being a mother has turned me into a complete hypocrite.

1.  I will never give my baby store bought baby food

I swore I never would. Pre-prepared baby food. I was going to be one of those earth mothers who wore my organic sling to the farmers markets and bought earthy vegetables I slowly simmered in a copper pot on the stove.

I tried it. I froze trays of purees I tried to remember to take them out with me. I engaged in the discussions about the evils of those squeezey packed baby foods you bought in supermarkets and then one day I just decided I was trying too hard.

Oh, the joys of giving in to convenience. My babies all loved it and my life was simplified.

2. I will NEVER give my baby a dummy

With my oldest son I swore I wouldn’t use a dummy. And I didn’t have to. He was a sedate happy baby. He didn’t sleep but he didn’t cry. Then I had his brother. This tiny bundle didn’t stop crying. He didn’t settle and he wasn’t sedate. I was desperate. Not only did I try a dummy. I tried every dummy on the market.

3. I will never let my children eat junk food

I tried this one. I really did. But sometimes, just sometimes life with three kids can be hectic and junk food is not only quick and easy, but the kids usually will eat it. Besides, if it's only every once in a while, the kids won't suffer.

4. I will for sure definitely return to work

I was definitely, always, sure, soon as can be I was going to return to work to my high pressured full time job in television. I loved it.

It was everything I dreamed of and there was no way I was giving that up. Work from 5am till 6pm. Easy. That’s what day care was for wasn’t it?

And then I had my babies.

Well, as you can tell that plan never quite materialised. Luckily ( thank you to my lovely employer) part-time child friendly work came my way.

 5. I will never use spit to clean their face.

How disgusting. Do you remember when your mother did that? Horrendous. So every time I do it, and it seems to be several times a day, I catch myself just after. "Did I really just do that again?"

6. I will never let my children go out in their pyjamas/ without shoes/wearing a Dora the Explorer hat, a Bob the builder dress up and a Spiderman mask or without any clothes on at all.

You let your child out dressed in that? Yes, well sometime you just need to get out of the house.

7. I will never give in to a tantrum

Remember PC (pre-child) when you would see those mothers in the supermarkets fist-pounding toddler on the floor and you would think that will never be me. My child will be well behaved. And if they kicked and screamed and yelled and pounded for a packet of smarties there is no way I would ever say yes.

Ahahahahahahhahaha... Oh.

8. Wear gym gear 24/7

If you saw me now you would realise how quickly that one went out the window. Because yoga pants are great.

9. I will never, ever, ever talk about my children endlessly

This was another those mother moments. You know the types who manage to relate every anecdote back to their kids, and share endless pics on social media.  I didn't mean to be this way I swear but well, my kids are pretty cute.

What did you swear that you would never do as a parent that you back flipped on?

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