Jody is stopping by today on her special tour! :-D (Special Tour)

I am really excited to be participating in Jody's "Fun Secrets about Author Jody Hedlund" blog tour. I am a big fan of her books and have really enjoyed getting to know her over the internet. So! Let's get started, 'kay?

And be sure to read everything Jody has to say...'cuz there's a special giveaway at the end and it's kind of important that you read what Jody has to say...in order to enter the giveaway, that is. *wink wink*

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Secret #17: My biggest double-standard as a parent.

By Jody Hedlund, @JodyHedlund

I'm normally a straight-forward mom. As the saying goes, "I practice what I preach."

In fact, if you were a fly on the wall in our house, you'd hear me say to my kids on a regular basis, "I never expect more of you than I expect of myself."

I require them to work hard, but I work equally hard.

I ask them to keep their stuff picked up, but I keep my junk organized too.

I limit their screen time, but I make sure to keep my TV/movie time to a minimum too.

For the most part, I try to live the way I want my kids to.

Except for in one area. Yes, I set a double standard.

*Hangs head in shame.*

Here's my biggest double standard as a parent: I don't always eat my daily fruit and veggies even though I require my kids to have the appropriate servings of fruit and veggies on a daily basis.

Yes, I know, big gasp.

*Hangs head lower*

It's not that I necessarily want to miss eating healthy doses of food. My lame excuse is that in the busyness of running around and taking care of everyone else, I don't take the time to make healthy meals for myself.

So I end up eating quick meals that consist of things like tortilla chips and salsa or crackers and cheese. And those meals are usually followed by a heaping helping of some kind of dessert that I usually sneak past the kids. Because of course, I require them to eat a healthy meal before having dessert.

Overall, we eat mostly fresh foods, home-cooking, and rarely eat out. So on the one hand, I hope I'm instilling in my children good eating habits! But on the other, I know more is "caught than taught."

I definitely have room for improvement in modeling what I eat to my children. Maybe that will be next year's New Year's Resolution. Or the year after that. :-)

What about you? What's your biggest double standard? Is there anything you preach but don't practice?

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Publisher's Weekly calls Unending Devotion "A meaty tale of life amid the debauchery of the lumber camps of 1880s Michigan . . . exciting and unpredictable to the very end."

To celebrate the release of Unending Devotion, Jody is giving away a signed copy. All you have to do is leave a comment answering Jody's question at the end of her post (oh, and also include your email address in the comment). Valid only with US or Canadian addresses. Giveaway ends: 10/5 at midnight.

For more secrets about Jody and additional chances to win her newest release, visit her Events Page to see where she'll be next in her "Fun Secrets About Author Jody Hedlund" blog tour.

Also join in the Pinterest Photo Contest she's hosting. Find more information about it on her Contest Page.

Jody would love to connect with you! Find her in one of these places:

Website: http://jodyhedlund.com/

Blog: http://jodyhedlund.blogspot.com/

Facebook: Author Jody Hedlund

Twitter: http://twitter.com/JodyHedlund

Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/jodyhedlund/