Those Mom Moments

In the world of parenthood, many things unite us. Our love for our children, our passion for building their futures and our desire to go to the bathroom without interruption are just a few. Many parents also enjoy talking to other moms and dads about those funny moments our children bring into our lives.

As they navigate through the world, learning and growing, they have a way of making their mark on each and every day. Some days those marks are funny, some days they are trying, and other days they are downright embarrassing. After a survey of metro moms, here is our top 10 list of parenthood’s most cringe-worthy moments:

• The Diaper Dilemma. We have all been there. You are just about to get to the front of a long checkout line, and your baby fills her diaper in epic fashion. Those around you are noticing the smell, and you have to decide whether you get out of line to, hopefully, find a change of clothes in the diaper bag or just wait it out to finish your purchase.
• Toddler Talk Trouble. Your little one is learning to talk and there are, of course, some challenges along the way. Often toddlers leave out letters or sounds when learning new words, and that can lead to real embarrassment. The most popular mispronunciation was “clock,” with the ‘L’ left out.
• I Swear He Didn’t Swear. And then there are the occasions when your little one really does say those words. They repeat those four-letter words at the best times—usually in front of your boss or your mother-in-law.
• Playground Panic. You just finished telling another parent how well-behaved your little one is when you look over and see your angel hitting another child over the head with a toy. You try to settle the situation, which leads to a full-blown meltdown. Your little darling never acts like this!
• Not-So-Private Parts. Little kids want to be physically close to Mom and Dad. As our metro moms tell us, that often means pants, shirts and undergarments become casualties in the tug-of-war.
• Show and Tell. With little ones attached to your hip, it is hard to get a moment alone. Whether it is recounting something they saw while joining you in the bathroom or sharing parts of an overheard conversation, little ones love to air your dirty laundry. “I was talking to myself while getting dressed, and my 3-year-old heard me. All morning, he told everyone that my pants were too tight,” says Laura Kerr, Blue Springs mom.
• Quirky Questions. Learning manners takes time, and our metro moms say their little ones make many a faux pas along the way. Moms say their children do everything from openly staring and pointing to outright asking strangers questions about their appearance. “On the night of Halloween, we went over to our neighbor’s house. With everyone being dressed up, our 3-year-old just figured everyone was in a costume. So, he pointed to an older man with a white beard and a belly and said ‘Look, Mom, that guy is dressed as Santa!’ Unfortunately, it wasn’t a costume,” says Stephanie Green, North Kansas City mom.
• Breaking the Silence. As soon as you are somewhere that requires quiet, your little one is sure to have a lot to say. Nothing draws more attention than being the only one in the room making noise. And sometimes it isn’t the talking that really makes an impression. “My baby ripped a fart at a wedding, right as the bride was about to walk down the aisle,” Tess Cameron, Kansas City, KS, mom, says. “It was quiet because the music was changing. Everyone heard.”
• Wear It with Pride. No matter how hard we try to be fashionable, keeping it all together is difficult with young children around. Metro moms say it is embarrassing how often they leave the house with spit-up, handprints or that morning’s breakfast somewhere on their clothing.
• Uniquely Yours. Many parents shared similar stories that didn’t make it into our top 10. We had lots of unique tales of embarrassment that ranged from toddlers’ throwing fits in public to little ones’ giving a play-by-play while you are in a public bathroom stall. Your children’s personalities are bound to come out in the little ways they face each day. And even for the days it leaves us red in the face and ready to run and hide, we will all look back and laugh.

Melissa Bellach is a freelance writer, journalist and mom of two who lives in Overland Park.