Before we become parents, it is easy to think of all the things we'll never do or say to our kids. Ever.

Well, nothing like real-life to make certain phrases come tumbling out of our far-from-perfect mouths.  Here are 5 choice parenting statements we might wish we'll never say, but often do:

1. When I was your age... fill in the blank here (I walked 3 miles in the snow, I watched black and white television, I had to empty the dishwasher)

2. You don't know how easy you have it ... related to the above statement and variations on "You are so ungrateful!"

3. I can't believe you're acting like this... clearly a cry for help among desperate parents everywhere.  This statement is so ineffectual it makes you want to curl up with the poor tired parent and offer them a quilt-cuddle.  We've all had days when the kids are acting out and nothing, nothing, makes them shape up.

4. Do you want Mommy to go to a home??... Ok this isn't really something my Mom ever said to me, but it's something I say to my kids.  It's horrid and threatening and doesn't even work.  But the concept of an institutional respite for tired mommies makes me smile. And a smiling mommy is often a much kinder, gentler mommy.

5. Now look what you did... This is the height of blame and passive aggression and yet, we often find ourselves saying it.  While there's no crying over spilled milk, a toddler dumping a glass of kool-aid on white carpet, is definitely worthy of a good weep.  The kids can't usually help all the spilling and messing and generally chaotic wrecking when they're young... but sometimes understanding this doesn't help.  Not one bit.

Parents are imperfect, if websites are to be believed, and the best we can muster sometimes is to laugh at our own Very Serious Proclamations.