You can spend hours chatting to friends, looking at online forums and reading a myriad of baby books. Tying yourself up in knots as they all contradict each other. If you search hard enough you can find a site promoting one point of view and in the same late night internet session, a YouTube video saying that is the most awful thing to do to your precious little baby. And it doesn't get any easier as they get older.
"I wouldn't ever let my son watch Marvel superheroes!"
"Nor me!" (runs and hides mask and tells child to forget he ever knew Batman)
And I think at our heart we all feel that. So we commit to things with such conviction and vigour to reassure ourselves we are making the right decisions. Which is probably where the 'judgey Mum' side of us comes from. Granted it seems to make some women behave more judgey than others but we all at sometimes have raised an eyebrow over something we've seen that we don't agree with. Forgetting that the last time someone thought we had made the wrong choice it nearly made us have a little
weep.
"My child is on a sugar free diet!"
"And mine!" (convinces oneself that there is no sugar in an ice cream filled milkshake)
So as I am getting further into the journey of motherhood I am trying to remain focused on what is best for me and my family. Others may think some of the things we do are weird. But at the end of the day we do what is best for us. What works for us. And what works for us might not work for you and that's cool. That's what makes life different and interesting.
I am going to try and avoid googling "best extra curricular classes to ensure that your child turns out to be an international pop star and lawyer" and just look inwardly and focus on what makes them happy. It's going to be hard. But I can't focus on the "f*cking it all up" worry anymore. It's too exhausting. And whilst it remains unknown if I will f*ck it all up, it is guaranteed that I am wasting a hell of a lot of time waiting to see what happens.
Parenthood is a myriad of choices and I always feel (as I always go easy option) am I doing right? It just gets worse as they get older!!
ReplyDeleteAmen to that! We all do what's right for OUR kids and our families. Some people may think my daughter does too many dance lessons. She doesn't. It just might be too much for their kid. People may think kids should go to bed earlier or eat a more balanced diet than my kids do, but it works for my kids.
ReplyDeletefabulous, thanks for sharing. x
ReplyDeleteI for one absolutely agree with this. I've been down this route googling and ensuring that I do absolutely everything right. When my kids were small, my biggest dread ever, would be that one day my kids might be in therapy. Actually, it wasn't all that long ago that I remember thinking this and tutting - 'it will never happen to mine'. And so it kind of stands to reason that we are now where we are! I reckon we could all do with a dose of therapy and if someone is there to help my child navigate this thing called life? Then I'm going to embrace them with open arms. In reality...we will all f*** our children up. We are parents after all! x x
ReplyDeleteHaha, I wish giving then chocolate at 2 was one of my problems, that boat sailed a long time ago!! (mainly fueled by grandparents who don't have to deal with the sugar aftermath!)
ReplyDelete