Mealtime Management
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Oh, you hate broccoli? Too bad. You want cereal for dinner? Too bad. As an adult, you can eat cereal for every meal, and no one can say a word. Cake for breakfast? Have at it! My husband hasn't eaten a mushroom in the 14 years that I've known him. If he were my kid instead of my spouse, I'd at least make him try one.
What to Wear
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Eventually most kids get some say in their wardrobe, and the cooler the parent, the sooner that day arrives. But there are still the years when kids wear whatever outfit their parent decides. These get-ups get more ridiculous based on the importance of the holiday, and while yes, they are adorable, I wouldn't want to be caught dead in any of them. Even when kids are able to choose their wardrobes, they run the risk of attending a school with a uniform, and then we're back to adults deciding the attire.
Snack Access
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While it's incredibly inconvenient to have to wait until the kids go to bed to get the good snacks (read: wine), it would be more of a bummer to not get those snacks at all. And think of Halloween. Kids gather an immense amount of candy and we take most of it. I don't feel bad about that since I bought and assembled the costumes, purchased candy to hand out and escorted my kids around the neighborhood, but I'm certain the kids don't see it that way.
Bedtime Battles
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I would be so annoyed if I had to go lie in my bed with the lights off even if I wasn't tired, so I get why my kids dislike bedtime. As a grown-up, I can stay up way too late watching bad TV, and no one can tell me to go to bed. I'm tired the next day, but the freedom to make that bad choice is mine.
Channel Control
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There are a ridiculous number of awesome cartoons out there, yet kids get 30 minutes to an hour of screen time a day? It's like adults don't even care that the DVR is filling up with My Little Pony episodes faster than they could ever be watched. Some days, my kids don't get to watch any television at all. The horror!
Limited Language
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Kids are still learning to communicate verbally, and don't have a full arsenal of words to communicate effectively. It can be frustrating to struggle with putting feelings and ideas into words, which is why kids throw tantrums. I get it. If I can't get someone to see my perspective on something, I feel the rage, too. Also, and more importantly, sometimes a well-placed swear is exactly what is needed to convey a message, and those powerful words are placed on a high shelf, out of kids' reach.
Eyes Everywhere
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I don't like it when people stare at me. Babies get stared at all day long. Toddlers are watched like hawks, and preschoolers have adults watching them bathe and wiping their bottoms. Even some older kids are watched during open-door playdates, while playing outside alone or during supervised computer sessions.
Treasures Keep Disappearing
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Imagine slaving over the perfect paper plate Easter Bunny, only to have it disappear the day after Easter. Or having an awesome cardboard box fort for a mere 72 hours before it's sent to the curb with the recycling. Any kid will tell you, art and cardboard boxes belong in the middle of the living room floor, not out with the trash. As an adult, you can hoard your items as much as you'd like!
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