Okay, blog fam, new series!
I don’t think small doses of daily screen time will enslave my daughter to entertainment for the rest of her life. It’s seasonal (hello, first trimester; hello, newborn days), it’s curated (she has one, maybe two things, that she enjoys watching), it’s used intentionally (when she and I want to relax together, when it’s been raining all day, when Julia is having a tough morning, when I want to treat her)… but it’s not a reason for shame.
I don’t feel bad (anymore) about saying I need a few minutes to do something productive. I grew up hearing “these moments are precious, they are only little once, don’t waste it” mindset about motherhood. So in the beginning with Anna, I felt guilty when I wasn’t giving her my full attention, like any minute we weren’t together was relationship lost. Yeesh. Now I understand it’s almost a matter of teaching her how to respect others. There are moments when I need to do something, to care for our home or for a design client, and asking her to give me a little space isn’t me being selfish. It’s showing her how to prioritize someone else’s needs or how to be resourceful on her own. In a way, it’s giving her a chance to show love to me.
Unless we’re going to church, I don’t really care what she picks out to wear or if her socks match. I do draw the line at mismatching shoes.
I don’t not get excited when she walks into the room. This has been a goal of mine from the beginning. My girls will never doubt my delight in them.
I don’t worry so much about her physical safety as I do her emotional confidence. Of course, at the base level, there is fear of all that could potentially harm her, but I’m more often afraid of her feeling afraid. That’s just me. Today.
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