10 Parenting Rules I Break Without Shame (And You Probably Should Too)

Parenting books and Facebook moms will have you thinkin’ you gotta be perfect 24/7. No screen time, no sugar, no processed foods, no fun…

Well guess what? I’m a proud rule-breaker, and my kids are still alive and (mostly) polite. Here’s a list of parenting rules I break without shame and maybe, just maybe, you should too.

If you’re one of those parents with a color-coded chore chart, perfectly labeled snack bins, and a daily organic kale smoothie schedule… this might not be for you. But if you’ve ever hidden in your car eating a drive-thru burger in peace, welcome home.

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1. I don’t cook separate meals for picky eaters

This ain’t a restaurant, honey. You eat what’s on the table or you get real acquainted with air for dinner. I am not about to make dinosaur nuggets, mac & cheese, and a gourmet salad just so everyone’s “happy.”

They say this builds “resilience” I say it builds mama’s sanity. Plus, after a few hungry nights, you’d be amazed what they’ll suddenly be “willing to try.” Brussels sprouts? Suddenly gourmet.

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2. I don’t let them interrupt grown folks

We were raised to wait our turn and say “excuse me.” If my kid tries to holler while I’m talkin’? They get the look that would stop a grown man in his tracks.

Respect for elders and for conversations is a Southern non-negotiable. I’d rather teach them to wait their turn than raise a grown adult who interrupts a funeral to show you a TikTok dance.

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3. Fast food dinners happen (a lot)

Listen, I love a homemade meal. I dream of Pinterest-perfect dinners with cloth napkins and candlelight. But between sports practices, late work calls, and me just flat-out not feeling like cooking, that Chick-fil-A drive-thru starts looking like a five-star establishment.

At least they’re getting protein… kinda. And let’s be real waffle fries are basically potatoes, so it counts as a veggie, right?

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4. “Five more minutes” means absolutely nothing

I’ve been saying “five more minutes” since they were born. Could mean two minutes, could mean thirty. They’ll survive, and they’ll learn to sense my vibe.

Sometimes “five minutes” is just me buying time to finish my coffee in silence or hide in the bathroom a little longer. It’s a family tradition passed down from generations of mamas who needed a minute.

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5. We don’t do elaborate birthday parties

You won’t catch me dropping thousands on a pony, a magician, and an influencer photographer for a birthday. A backyard sprinkler, a cheap piñata, and cupcakes from the grocery store? That’s plenty festive.

Kids don’t remember the fancy balloon arches. They remember playing tag till dark and eating cake that turned their tongues blue.

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6. Sometimes they wear pajamas all day

Who decided kids need to change clothes three times a day? If they’re clean-ish and comfortable, let them live.

We’ve got bigger battles to fight like convincing them to put shoes on before we leave the house. Pajamas? That’s a battle I’m happy to surrender.

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7. We skip bath night (more than I admit)

They aren’t off to a gala or a White House dinner. They can skip a bath day — or two. Unless they smell like a wet dog that rolled in Cheetos, we’re good.

Besides, skipping baths builds “immunity”… or at least that’s what I tell myself to sleep at night.

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8. We bribe with candy

Judge if you must. If a mini Snickers bar gets them to put their shoes on in under 10 minutes, that’s a win.

I like to call it “motivational parenting.” Works better than any fancy parenting book I’ve ever read.

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9. I don’t force sharing

We teach kindness, sure. But that “you must share everything” rule? Not happening here.

If I don’t want to share my fries, why force them to share their favorite toy with a random cousin who’ll probably break it? Boundaries matter — even for toddlers.

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10. I take solo trips without guilt

Mama needs breaks too. I’ll go to Target alone and sometimes just sit in the parking lot with a milkshake, listening to music that doesn’t feature baby sharks or dancing vegetables.

You can’t pour from an empty sweet tea cup, and you can’t be a good mama if you’re running on fumes. Solo trips keep me (mostly) sane.

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At the end of the day, parenting is messy, loud, and beautifully imperfect.

So here’s to breaking a few rules, keeping your sanity, and raising happy (mostly clean) little humans.

If you agree (or wanna argue), sound off in the comments. And if you don’t? Bless your heart.