An endless list: Mistakes you shouldn't be embarassed about because every mom has made them

I’ve received — from various anonymous sources — this list of mistakes that parents have beaten themselves up for unnecessarily. And frankly, just like Heather once confessed to being embarrassed about being embarrassed about public breastfeeding, some of these events are so trivial, it’s clear a little resilience is in order.

We need to be able to bounce back, not drown in a shame spiral over missed snacks.

Other forgivable errors in your past or future:

Resending an evite to your child’s birthday party because you put the wrong date in it. And then resending again because you forgot another detail.
Running out of diapers and having to bum one off a stranger.
Calling one of Emma’s moms Dana when her name is Tara and her wife is Dana.
Enthusiastically pointing out construction or a dog or a firetruck to a group of adults who lost interest in that topic after their seventh birthdays.
Sitting on the ground because you didn’t know lounge chairs or a picnic blanket was a thing to bring. And being too shy to ask to sit on the corner of someone else’s blanket.
When your child exclaims, “I didn’t know restaurants have dessert!” because you’ve never allowed them to order it.
Running out of milk or other important food that a mom should be on top of.
Realizing ten minutes before you’re supposed to bring snack that it’s your turn and scavenging the kitchen for anything that can pass for snack. Bananas, old Ritz crackers… ummm, do kids eat canned pineapple or chickpeas?
Using the word “potty” to another adult. At work.
Being the last one to pick up your child from anywhere. Everyone feels terrible about this, but someone has to be last, right?
Calling little Hayden “Holden” or “Aiden.” A lot.
Not having a birthday gift when it’s time to head out for a party and re-gifting something from Christmas that didn’t get opened.
Having a minivan full or garbage/snacks/crumbs/wrappers when it’s your turn to pick up adults for Moms Night Out / PTA training (something for grownups)
Reading an evite for another kids party and not knowing who the kid is, who the parents are, or which of your children is invited.
Forgetting the lunchbox.
Sending the lunchbox, but leaving out key ingredients because you thought your partner was doing it.
Forgetting to bring a bathing suit to swim class and talking your four-year old kid into wearing a jumbo size swim diaper they sell at the pool and calling it European.
That time your toddler has a blowout and you don’t have spare pants so you put your own shirt on his legs and tie it up so they don’t fall down.
Repeating a story to a patient friend because you can hardly focus on any conversation, there are so many voices and reminders in your head, that you’re not sure if you actually spoke the words out loud.

What “fatal” error makes you cringe whenever you remember the experience?

Whoops! This is why we’re out of milk.

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Whitney

RookieMoms.com co-founder Whitney lives with her husband, son, and daughter in the San Francisco Bay Area where she writes about parenting, crafts, and activities that moms can do with babies in tow. She and Heather also publish 510Families.com, a site for East Bay parents.