I will NEVER

I will NEVER let my kids eat in the living room.
I will NEVER reprimand my kids in public.
I will NEVER use TV to babysit my kids.
I will NEVER let my kids have screen time on a sunny day.
I will NEVER serve my kids Kraft Mac & Cheese three times in one week.
I will NEVER buy generic diapers.
I will NEVER yell at my kids.

These are all of the things you say BEFORE you actually have kids.

Here is the reality:

I will NEVER let my kids eat in the living room. Our carpet is definitely not the same color as when we bought the house due to much leniency on this rule but we have a lot of good memories of family pizza and a movie night so it’s all good in my book.

I will NEVER reprimand my kids in public. The first time your kid runs away from you in the parking lot this will change.

I will NEVER use TV to babysit my kids. It shouldn’t necessarily be the first choice but when you are trying to make lunch and one kid is hanging from your leg while two are insisting they are starving and the fourth is being too quiet, Wall-e is a much welcome distraction so you can get s*** done.

I will NEVER let my kids have screen time on a sunny day. Sometimes the struggle to get them, and yourself, outside is just not worth the fight. I, personally, am a fan of learning to read apps or ones with a Godly message so I feel like less of a bad mom for not making them play outside.

I will NEVER serve my kids Kraft Mac & Cheese three times in one week. Mac & Cheese takes 10 minutes to make and my kids will always eat it. You always need the pack of 5 boxes on hand - Also Kraft makes a kind with cauliflower in the noodles and my kids love it!

I will NEVER buy generic diapers. Huggies are soft but MAN are they expensive. Then try buying them for two or three kids. Uh, pass. Luvs for the win.

I will NEVER yell at my kids. I JUST NEED YOU TO SIT STILL LONG ENOUGH SO I CAN GET THE POOP OFF OF YOUR FOOT! or I AM LITERALLY MAKING LUNCH RIGHT NOW, WHICH I’VE TOLD YOU 6 TIMES, SO NO YOU CANNOT HAVE AN ICE CREAM CONE!!!

The thing I’ve learned: Never say never.