Did you realize yet as a parent that no matter how much you read, how many questions you ask, how many things you google, we’re all here winging it?
Seriously.
No book can prepare you for the little one(s) you have. Sure, we all cross similar bridges with developmental milestones with them and different situational experiences. The true experiences though cannot be planned for.
Trusting ourselves is the best we can do…
Given you’re a decent human. (Yes, I said that because there are many that aren’t, sadly.)
I am going to enjoy telling this story 1,000 times over that happened a few months back.
My husband was giving our son a bath and he will stay in there until the water is cold. He LOVES a bath and plays forever. This time was quick though. He stood at the edge signing to my husband “All done.”
He didn’t think much of it, so he threw him into his towel and diaper. Then he realized the situation.
He came running downstairs to where I work from at home and while I was on a call with a coworker he whispers, “he pooped in the tub and I don’t know what to do.” We both started laughing as well as my coworker and I could only respond with, “As long as he’s out just get a cup and scoop it out!”
Someone needs to write this shit in a book.
Another moment we had the other night is more relatable to how my son is learning he can get things his way with his attitude or possibly the “terrible twos” are setting in as we near his 2nd birthday that everyone talks about.
Either way, we came in the other night and my son saw his Easter cookies he painted. Obviously, any child would want a cookie over what is for dinner. He had a full-blown melt down in our kitchen to the point we thought he may throw up he was working himself up so much.
We both continued to tell him, “you can have this cookie after you eat your dinner.” We sat with him to show him his food, we tried to calm him, but no luck. So instead, instincts of removing him from the situation hit me and I walked into his room with him and sat him on the rocking chair. I told him to stay there until he calmed down and then he could join us for dinner.
Truthfully, inside my husband and I were getting to the boiling point hearing him scream like that for so long. Removing him from the room was best for all of us. We all know we only have so much patience.
He came out once still crying so I walked him back in again and said the same thing. He sat for another 5 minutes and then we hear his bedroom door shut. My husband jokingly said, “he has the teenager door slam down already!” But really, he came out and shut the door behind him.
He quietly walked to the dinner table, put his cup on the table and hopped into his seat to begin eating his dinner. We all sat together eating and enjoying ourselves. It was nice.
Honestly, I was taken back that it actually worked and so was my husband. No one taught us that or told us to do that.
When he was done, he hopped down and began to walk away but I quickly got that cookie he so badly wanted and handed it to him. I reminded him how great he did at eating dinner and that he was very good once he got to the table and he smiled and went along to his recliner chair to enjoy his cookie.
Of course, we’re going to chalk that up as a win. However, realistically, I’m not sure how many times that will work moving forward. We can only try though!
My point in the matter is these kids do not come with any type of REAL instruction manual.
We have our parents, friends, and doctors to help guide us. Outside of that, the books only give us what each parent encountered. We must trust our parental instincts that what we will do is the best for our child in that moment.
From what I can see around me with those I know as parents, everyone is doing a damn good job! So keep that shit up!
Just remind yourself none of us knew what the hell we were doing when these little ones came into our lives and all we can do is wing it and try our best!
Two Cents Worth of Mom Life 