No Regrets

My follow-through does not have a good track record.  I have started so many projects in the past, made so many plans and decisions, and there are few I’ve actually stuck to or finished.  When I was in high school, I was sure I would write a book and spend my days painting.  I would make the time.  I was going to do it.  How many times have I said that I would get caught up and stay on top of housework?  Eat healthy and exercise regularly?  And the ones that make me feel like a horrible mother these days: read to my son and play lots of learning games, and go to the beach and the park and teach him to sign, use cloth diapers, make my own baby food, breast feed…  The list in this category goes on and on.

Today, all through another cranky-filled afternoon and evening (with no naps, I might add…), I’ve given quite a bit of thought to the things I really feel are the most important.  I know I’m not Superwoman, and I can’t do everything.  While I’d love to say I’ll just devote all of my waking moments to my son and do nothing but teach and play with him, that’s not entirely realistic, if I ever want to do laundry, never mind sleep.  Does every new mom face this choice?  Do we all have to pick and choose the things that are “best for baby” that are the most important to us?

I thought it might be helpful to make a list of the things I’m told by various sources that I should be doing.  I won’t bore you with my list.  When I’d made my list, I found that some items on it could be combined, such as “reading every day” and “establish a bedtime routine”.  Reading can be part of the routine.  My mom read to my sister and I every night.  I still have the books she read to us from the most.  That is a very fond memory that probably did me more good than if she used cloth diapers and made sure I learned my numbers “on time”. 

As I write this, I’m realizing that if I just look back at what I remember the most about my childhood, I’ll find what is important for me to do for my own child.  Sharing what I come up with here will help me to hold myself accountable for following through, too.

Mom read to me every night.  I want the same for my kids.

We had to brush our teeth every morning and every night.  It’s a good habit, and I will help my son learn it.

No matter the weather, we went outside to play; that was our exercise.  Same goes for Logan (and me!).

We were encouraged to try new foods, but never forced.  I will not force my child to eat something that makes him gag, but I will encourage him to try new and healthy foods.  I will also set an example by eating healthy foods and trying new ones myself!

The most important things to me, are to instill good, healthy habits as early as possible, and keep them up through my sons life.  As his parents, we are his role models, the example of goodness and responsibility he has to learn from.  It is our job to teach him, not just his ABC’s and animals, but how to take care of himself physically and emotionally, how to be a decent person, and many other things that will mostly come later.  But they all begin now.

And right now, the best thing I can do for my son, is to get myself to bed and sleep.