I like to think I was a diligent parent when my kids were tiny. I spent my pregnancies researching and preparing for their babyhoods. Their carefully-curated newborn outfits were meticulously washed in baby-friendly detergent. Guests were greeted with hand sanitizer at the front door, and our kitchen would eventually become an organic baby food factory.
Things have changed a bit in the years since my babies became kids. I can?t remember the last time I asked them to wash their hands (they?re sick all the time, regardless), and dinner last night included hot dogs… and cereal.
It?s not that I?ve given up, it?s just that?OK. Maybe I?ve kind of given up. Because I realize now, with the gift of hindsight, that so many things I fretted over when my kids were little, ultimately didn?t matter that much in the long run. Like? 1. Feeding them homemade organic food
I?m as passionate about nutritious, home-made food as anyone else. But I?ve also learned to scale back my efforts and pick my battles. That?s because those sweet little babies who happily plowed through pureed organic carrots won?t touch anything that isn?t beige and processed nowadays. They come home from school riding a sugar high because someone had a birthday, which means there were ten thousand cupcakes. So, while my kids had a good run for the first year of their lives, we?re now at a place where sprinkles are a food group.
2. Baby boutique apparel that costs more than your own clothes
This. Was. Me. I was that ...