Bad mums: Confessions of the real-life ladies on the naughty list!
If Santa was keeping an eye on how adults behave in the run-up to Christmas, these women would definitely be on the naughty list!
Blogger Lyndsey Gilmour, 37, from London, is mum to Bailey, five.
‘Last year, a friend had recommended the Santa’s List app, which parents can programme to say whether their child is on the good or naughty list when they use it – and it’s a great way of entertaining the children.
She got it out when my daughter, Bailey, and I were there, and showed us how to use it. Your child puts their fingertip on a “box” on the screen, and Santa gives his verdict based on what you’ve set it to do. Bailey got quite excited and, when the app said she was on the “good list”, she loved it.
So, at home, I downloaded it on my phone to have another turn, but I managed to set it up wrong and it flashed up saying she was on the naughty list by mistake!
The colour drained from her face and she was inconsolable. “I’ve tried so hard to be good,” she sobbed.
And because I’d been bigging it up, saying it was a real hotline to Santa and that he knew everything, when it said she was on the naughty list, I had to go along with it.
“Maybe it’s because you haven’t tidied your room,” I suggested, feeling guilty. “Or you didn’t brush your teeth last night when I asked you to.”
When I suggested we could put things right and try the app again, she refused – she was too scared! But, from then on, she’d put away all of her toys every night, and was quick to listen to everything I said.
And in the run-up to Christmas, she kept asking if I thought she’d been good enough.
“You’ve been wonderful,” I told her, honestly. And even after Christmas, her good behaviour continued. I felt terrible, but I’ve kept the app on my phone for this year – and she’s well aware of it! I suppose I should delete it, but it may come in handy again...’