It's sometimes so hard as a parent to just let em grow up and learn for themselves.
The other day I took Fin & Maddie to the Family Fun Center on post and some kids told Fin that he needed the password to play with them. He walked away from them and believed them. I laughed and told him that he could still play and that they probably weren't fun to play with anyway. I wanted to tell him that they were mean kids but didn't. I wanted to tell him to march right up to them and tell them to be nice, but I didn't.
Maddie leaves the house with fixed hair but 5 minutes later it's down and messy. Do I care? Not really because she's little. She's five. I get stares sometimes because my kids usually look half crazy but it doesn't really both me because they're kids. They're healthy and happy and small. They don't have to look perfect all the time.
The majority of the time, Owen is barefoot and has food all over his face but he's happy.
I don't mind because it saved me the fight with him over his face. Does it hurt anyone that he's got a messy face?! Nope.
Do I mind that Owen usually feeds the dog his food? YES! It drives me crazy but do I fight it?! Not really because it makes him happy and he's clearly not starving.
He thinks he's helping and it's pretty cute to watch him get all proud of himself for feeding Bo.
Kids have to learn life lessons for themselves or they'll never learn.
For the longest time, Fin feared the pool. Even with floaties he was just terrified to let go of the edge, to scared to jump off the edge and dive in. After what seemed like an eternity, he finally jumped; he faced his fears and dove in. He then did it a million more times. He was so proud of himself for finally conquering those fears.
You can't baby them. they have to get scraped knees or boo boos. How else are they going to learn that lesson? To not jump off the couch again or to not run around with whatever toy just hurt them?!
Let them try the hot sauce if they ask, let them add their own salt to their food.
They're only young once. Let them experience life for themselves, just guide them as they go and hope and wish and pray you guide them well enough that they'll grow up to be decent well rounded people.
In the end, that's the best you can do.
My coworker has two kids and I feel like sometimes she overparents. At first I thought she was being a good, protective mom but sometimes she tells me stories and I think, "Just let them do their thing. They're kids. Let them learn."
ReplyDeleteOf course I can't really say anything because I'm not a parent, so I know I wouldn't really know. Still....
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I love this post. I have to remind myself a lot lately since Piper came that Addie is still only three. She's a mature and helpful three but she's still a baby too.
ReplyDeleteBeautifully said! I can totally relate with the hair, my daughter's hair is straight on top and curly underneath, so five minutes after brushing and it looks like we never did brush it.
ReplyDeleteI love that song
This is so true. Sometimes it's hard to remember to just let them be. Let them learn on their own.
ReplyDeleteYour kids are just the cutest. And it's so true- it even goes for adults. Everyone has to learn on their own!
ReplyDeleteSo true. And I love every single picture in this post. Your kids are gorgeous and REAL and they've got parents who love them- that's most important. :)
ReplyDelete