Friggly Pants

Have you ever been in the midst of your morning routine and when it came time to slip on your slacks; you had a meltdown? I'm just curious to hear if it's just my kid who finds nearly all of her pants "friggly." Pants that she picks from the store, ones that were given as gifts, and even the hand me down ones: they're all painfully uncomfortable. So much so that when she's laying on the floor rigid and screaming in protest you'd think that every morning a demon inhabits my perfect child. I've done a little looking into clothing issues with kids and found this to be a bit of a taboo subject. They're just picky, or whiny, or becoming independent in their wardrobe. While I don't think she's just being picky, I don't think it's something that's screams medicate me!! I just wish she was comfortable in her own clothes. 

A Little Admiration

I like to think that I'm a perfect parent simply by imperfect parenting. While I may be the best (not up for debate as this is my blog) there are plenty of parents out there that I truly respect and admire. D & R are one of those couples with their little guy Josiah. They follow some of my child raising rules / values and have such a wonderful baby because of it.

1. Pass your kid around - The more you stop other people from holding your baby the more you create a child that can only cope with you and you alone. Throw that date night out the window when it's only you that can settle your little one.

2. Stop shushing people - How do you expect other people to be quiet because little Jimmy is sleeping when the whole notion is stupid. You've now created a child whose sleep schedule controls the volume of life around you.

3. Take the baby out - Go out and do the things that you did before. Take your baby with you. He/ she will be comfortable in social situations and hopefully not attached to your leg as they grow.

4. Germs build immune systems - For the love of God stop making people sanitize their hands before they're allowed to touch your baby. There is a reason the kid at school whose mother carries a full bottle of hand sanitizer is sick 3 times in a month.

D & R have followed all of these things and I am so grateful that there are other families like mine out there. Josiah is one of the most delightful babies and I am all the better for knowing his little family.

Recipe for Imperfect Parenting

My personal recipe for imperfect parenting:

1 cup of laziness   "I don't know you figure it out"

2 cups of lies   "you sing beautifully, keep it up"

1/2 cup of empty threats   "every bite on that plate or Santa takes back his gifts"

3/4 cup of sarcasm   "you're right, you know everything -4 isn't too cold for a skirt, go for it"

Another 1/2 cup of laziness   "I'm watching my show, you sound the letters out"

1 cup of fake sympathy   "are you okay? you know after you fell during a jump from one couch to the other"

3 tbsp of forced affection   "they cut me open for you, I want a hug damn it"

2 tbsp of giving in   "5 more minutes then it's definitely bedtime"

3 tsp of repetition   "stop grabbing his collar... Stop grabbing his collar"

1 tsp of giving up   "hey she's finally out... Wink wink." "I'm tired now." "yeah me too"

And pinch of acceptance   "my house looks like we resurrected a mammoth and let him roam around in here... Cool"