Good Enough Parenting

I think when you're pregnant you have a ton of ideals.  You look at your friends and with a smirk think to yourself well I'm never going to do that or I'm going to do this differently, my kid won't act like that.  Every parent in the history of time has uttered words to those effects.  And for sure I had expectations of myself in parenting...swim lessons, music classes, dance, toddler gymnastics, etc. 

"My child won't watch tv."

"My child will only watch 30 minutes of educational television a day."

"My child will only eat organic food."

"I won't listen to toddler songs all day long in my car."

"My child will take (insert favorite artistic activity here)."

Emma watches tv.  Probably a LOT of tv by other people's standards.  I mean A LOT.  The tv is on from the time we get downstairs in the morning until naptime.  She also plays a lot.  And talks a lot.  And sings a lot.  And helps with chores.  And plays with the dogs.  She is also incredibly smart.  On her own she figured out that coins from our coin jar go in her piggy bank.  She also knows all the words to the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse theme song.  Today she asked to watch Super Why because she saw it on the guide on the tv (written, not pictured) and we don't even watch that show.  She also can pick out Little Einsteins off the guide.  And she has really good manners (she says "excuse me please" when she's done eating to get out of her high chair). 

Emma ate organic food and breastmilk her entire first year of life.  I'll admit that since then she's become probably too acquainted with the McDonald's happy meal, chicken nuggets, pizza, and french fries.  She loves french fries.  She also loves vegetables and fruit.  She is not a picky eater and she is a good eater. 

We listen to toddler songs in the car.  So many toddler songs.  In my head all day and night.  My other option is her saying, "Me no like that song" to every contemporary song that comes on the radio. 

There are 1000 overpriced, 30 minute long activities you can sign your child up for and I have friends who actually do sign their children up for those activities. We do not. First off, we are relatively cheap and we budget our money. Spending hundreds of dollars on dance lessons for our 2 year old is not something we are willing to do. Em enjoyed going to the daycare at the gym (back when I worked out) as much as someone else's child enjoys gymnastics. We do a playgroup or two (one of which we actually paid a whopping $21 for a year membership) and we do a movement and music class on Fridays (because it was on sale this session).

We go to Starbucks so often that Em can order my "decaf mocha" and "punken bead" also known as pumpkin bread on her own. 

She has a social workers heart.  Her favorite Sesame Street characters are Bert & Ernie and Super Grover.  If you have a toddler and watch Sesame Street then you know why those characters are special. 

So am I ever going to win parent of the year.  Probably not.  Do I sometimes feel bad about myself comparing myself to my friends who spend ALL FREAKING DAY on the floor playing with their kids?  Absolutely.  Is Emma happy, healthy, and smart?  For sure.  I've come to realize that good enough parenting is pretty darn good.  Em is thriving and that's all that matters.