Monday, January 28, 2008

Quote of the Day

Bringing up a family should be an adventure, not an anxious discipline in which everybody is constantly graded for performance. --Milton R. Saperstein

I came across this quote today and it was exactly what I needed to hear. This week, I've been really hard on myself because I felt like I've "let" Maizie get out of control. I was giving myself a C or D. Fact is, she is simply 15-months-old. 15-month-olds scream in public sometimes. They try to wriggle out of your grip and run away from you. They stand up in shopping carts and have temper tantrums even when you calmly explain to them that standing in shopping carts is dangerous. But they also cock their heads to one side and shimmy their shoulders when a good song comes on. And they carry on entire (and extremely adamant) conversations with you about "Beesig Bajoobee" and "Oxana Biyoul." And 15-month-olds squeal with delight when you come at them with your "tickle face" and they lay their heads on your shoulder when you sing them to sleep. So I need to learn to stop grading myself and comparing myself and simply enjoy this amazing adventure called parenthood.

5 comments:

Kim P. said...

That's a great quote, and one I'll need to hear often I'm sure. I'm currently trying to enjoy being awake at night feeding him and remember that it won't last forever, but it's hard sometimes. For what it's worth, I see Maizie as a happy little toddler, not one that's "out of control". I give you an A+

Alyssa said...

Amen! And just remember, we are our worst critics. Just because our kids don't behave to the standard we expect in public it doesn't mean they aren't perfectly behaved children in someone else's eyes.

Briana said...

good lesson. One day, when they are grown and off to college we might have all learned it by then.

myra said...

Thanks for the reminder. I'm constantly being reminded, ever so gently by my husband that our daughter is "being a baby". I'm learning that my expectations need to reflect that.

Mark said...

Sounds like it's an appropriate time for "Frost's First Law of Child-Rearing" which states, "At every stage of your child's life, there are unique challenges to be faced. Do your best with them, but take comfort in knowing that most of them will come and go and never be repeated. But at every stage of your child's life, there will be unique joys and blessings. Enjoy them and treasure them, for most of them will not be repeated either."