babyworld - are you turning into your mother?

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Ellie Jane Aged 10 months

Would you be offended if a stranger called you 'sweetie'? Vote now! Do you regret the name(s) you gave to your child(ren)? Vote now! How many Easter eggs will you buy? Vote now!

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Your child has just done something naughty and you realise, with horror, that the angry words you utter are straight from your mother's mouth.

Where did they come from? How did they escape?

Before you go running into therapy, take our quiz to see if you really are turning into your mum.

You're eight months pregnant and tucking into your fifth Mars bar of the day. Your mother mutters that she never gained a single pregnancy pound with you. What do you do?

	Ask 'What happened since then?'
	Tell her that these days midwives aren't hung up on maternal weight issues.
	Feel miserable as you finish your mouthful and bin the rest of your bounty.

When your baby is born, you announce her name as Bluebell Apple Pie. Your mum's horrified intake of breath is louder than your newborn's screams. What do you say?

Sorry darlings, I think we were having a 'pregnancy moment' when we chose that name. Let's have a rethink."
We used Heat magazine for inspiration.
It's just a joke!

Your baby refuses to wear her bootees in the dead of winter and your mum is tutting that her feet are cold. What do you do?

Nod your head in agreement and say, "I know, but what's a mum gonna do?
Tell her angrily that you're trying your best with this and could she please lay off you?
Agree with her and beg for some advice on how she managed to keep your bootees on.

Your one-year-old is not sleeping through the night. Your mum tells you that you need to toughen up; letting you cry it out never hurt you did it? You say…

We definitely need some sleep. How about we leave her with you for a week?
We're starting on a sleep-training programme tomorrow.
We're trying another technique called controlled crying, which is supposed to be less stressful on both mum and baby.

Your picky toddler is refusing to eat her homemade vegetable lasagne. You…

I'll just move the furniture around a bit to cover it. Everything's black ash anyway so it won't look out of place
Feel fed up that she's not eating but tell yourself that the best plan of action is not to get stressed - she'll get better with time.
Say it doesn't matter and give her her pudding instead.

Every time your mum visits she plies your daughter with chocolate. You…

Thank her for treating your daughter but ask that sweets be kept till after mealtimes.
Tell her that dealing with hyperactivity caused by excessive sweets intake is not fun.
Ask her why she is breaking the very rules you are now assiduously following with your child; you were only allowed one Werther's Original once a month.

Since your child was born, your relationship with your mother has…

… deteriorated beyond repair.
… become a partnership: no one can tell where you stop and she begins.
… settled somewhat; you don't idolise her as much and she treats you with more respect.

How do you feel about how your mother raised you now you're a mum?

A handy babysitter for those ad-hoc evenings out.
A live-in childcare guru
A confidante from time to time.

Whose advice do you value the most on raising your own child?

Need we ask?
Your friends, your health visitor, your pets…
A bit of this and a bit of that… you decide what to listen to and follow.

Where to next?

Test yourself - see more quizzes!