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If the toddler genuinely does not want to eat something, I don’t force him but I insist that he taste the food before rejecting it.

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I don’t even ask my husband the quintessential ‘if-I-am-looking-fat’ question in front of my son.

Anything related to appearance: Like most women, I am never happy with my body but I never ever say anything in front of my son. I don’t even ask my husband the quintessential ‘if-I-am-looking-fat’ question in front of my son. I also never comment on other people’s looks or skin colour or appearance in front of him. I never use the term ‘good-looking’ to him either, instead I tell him he is ‘adorable’. I have been guilty of using the term ‘cute’ sometimes, but usually it is meant for his actions rather than his looks.

Saying anything bad about School: During one of those challenging days, I am tempted to tell my son ‘wait till you go to school’ or ‘do you want me to send you to school?’ But I stop myself. Especially at this juncture when he is enthusiastic about starting school, I would not want to spoil it by making it sound like school is some kind of punishment. When a friend casually questioned him if he knew he would have to cut his hair and clip his nails for school, I even stopped her. Nothing of that sort is going to happen right away [in Playschool]. Moreover, we don’t want to associate clipping nails or hygiene-related things with ‘school’.

If the toddler genuinely does not want to eat something, I don’t force him but I insist that he taste the food before rejecting it.

Bad-mouthing any kind of Food: I never say anything bad about any kind of food except of course junk food. So, if I don’t like any particular fruit, I would skirt the issue saying I don’t feel like eating it at that time. I even stop the husband to make faces while eating some vegetables he does not like [which I always sneak in ‘mixed vegetables’ or ‘sambhar’... ha ha]. Of course, if the toddler genuinely does not want to eat something, I don’t force him but I insist that he taste the food before rejecting it.

Bad-mouthing anyone: I don’t want my child to develop certain perceptions about other people according to what I say. It has happened to us so many times, when we have created perceptions from what we have heard of other people, especially from our family and close friends. I believe my child should develop his own equations with people in our lives.

As he will grow older, I am sure this list will grow longer. I am keen to know about the things you are conscious of never saying in front of your kids.