Signs I’m not the type A parent you’d think I’d be with my perfectionist issues:

1. I bribe my carpool.  Yes, I give them candy whenever it’s my turn and I made a bet with them to stay off their cell phones and if they could do it until the end of the school year, I’d give them $100.  Only 1 eighth grader is still in the running.

2. I might have a bad potty mouth and my three year old may be picking up on it.  In my defense people in West Los Angeles don’t know how to drive.  There’s a sense of entitlement that comes with high end cars.

3. I bribe my thirteen year old with iTunes and shopping.  I just find it easier for her to do things that aren’t her “chores” if I pay her off.  Funny thing a .99 cent song on iTunes does the trick most times, so really I’m probably winning here.

4. The boy doesn’t want to poop, yes poop in the potty.  I made a potty chart and if he does his business five times in the potty I’m taking him to Disneyland.  I’m weak.

and the final example…

5. I take the boy to the play area of the mall so I can relax and I have been known to come home from work, put on Netflix, and let him watch Iron Man cartoons while I take a 15 to 20 minute nap to make up for a long day at work and a lack of sleep in the middle of the night when I wake up and have too much on my mind.

As someone who is such the perfectionist at work and is always worried about what others think of me to be a pushover potty mouth with my kids shows I feel more comfortable around a three year old superhero and a thirteen year old drama queen.

Even with my faults though I’m still quite the amazing mom if you ask me.  The things I do for those two and will never stop doing is just what the love of a mother will do.  I will always fight for them and love them forever.  I’m not perfect and these two show me that.  Maybe one day I will see at work and with “people” I don’t need to be perfect either.  If these two can love me for my faults I know others do too.  I’m sure my closest friends know I’m not perfect, even on the days I want to be.

I’m learning to be kinder to me with the help of my two kids.  Who would have thought they’d help me so much with something that should be so easy.