What is one of the worst parenting mistakes?

I am a parenting expert... Haha, actually, I don't believe there is such a thing! I used to think that if you followed a certain formula, you would be guaranteed a certain result. I guess I thought that a child's behaviour was a perfect reflection of the way they were parented. For example, kids that had tantrums when they didn't get their own way were spoilt. Then, an amazing thing happened to enlighten me to the folly of my preconceived notions; I became a mother!

Now, I love my kids, I'm proud of every little achievement (don't tell them that) and I would love nothing more that to give them everything they want but I can't, because I am their mother. My role is not to make sure that they are always happy, but to give them a solid foundation to build upon. My first child was particular difficult as a baby, he barely slept and when he became a toddler, I soon discovered that he was always disappointed. No matter how happy or excited he was to get his own way, it was (and is) so short lived. And his disappointment is so hard to bear- the screaming, throwing, biting, hitting etc. I don't give in to him, am consistent with his consequences but even now, at 4 1/2 years old, disappointments hit my boy hard. I realise now that it is because he is still emotionally immature and unable to control his impulses (I have hope that this will continue to improve), however improvement will only come if I am a good mother to him...

Which brings me to my point... One of the worst things a parent can do (and we probably all do it from time to time) is to make EXCUSES for our children! I don't know about you, but my children are perfectly capable of making excuses for themselves, they don't need me to justify their poor behaviour or bad choices. Our children need to learn that behaviours need consequences, whether good or bad, and we are setting them up for failure if we constantly make excuses for them or coming to their aid to 'fight their battles'. How can we expect our children to make good choices if we don't teach them right from wrong?