Breakfast On Pluto

Every kid is different.

That's what they tell us, anyways. However the window of normality within this different is a slim one I'm learning. As a first time parent, its really challenging to not A) compare my kid to every other kid out there, B) compare me as a parent to every other parent out there and C) frantically call the doctor every time I learn that I may be off the beaten path.

Not really. But that is just me. Well, except for B.

I'm really fortunately to say that I have made a conscientious effort to not compare Jordan with other kids. I know where she is advanced, but I let her do her stuff at her own time. I didn't worry when she didn't walk early, I don't compare her words or her motor skills, I just play with her and enjoy her and figure hey, its all gonna happen eventually and probably too soon anyways. And I really mean that. Now the whole comparing myself as a parent, its WAY too easy to do that. Especially when it comes to food - my kid eats when we all remember, drinks a ton of milk, and probably lives on too many goldfish, grilled cheese sandwiches, hot dogs and boxed macaroni. And when I hear about parents giving their kids goat cheese, arugula, and the like, I am certain I am depriving my kid precious nutrients. But I can't force myself to cook what I don't normally carry in the house, and I can't afford to buy things like that for myself, let alone for my kid to squish into a ball and leave in corners of the house. So I had to learn to let that one go, give her vitamins and fresh fruit, and and least make sure she was getting basic meals and snacks with meat, dairy, veggies, fruits, and grains.

I guess I also have to remember that most of the people I compare myself to aren't almost 30 weeks pregnant.

Anyways, the real point of this post is a rant haha. There is nothing harder to stomach than moms who tout their child's skills and their proficient parenting methods under your nose, insinuating that you can't possibly match them. I don't know many of these personally. The few that I do, I block from my newsfeed and stalk their facebook/blog on my own time when I am good and ready to get mad. And maybe they aren't doing it on purpose...but they sure are good at it if they mean to! And if I give off the same vibes to my friends and readers, I am so sorry! I find every little thing Jordan does to be amazing, not in a "miracle that no baby has ever done earlier or better than her" sort of way, but in a "this little person is learning to be an adult before my very eyes and holy COW" sort of way.

Props to every parent out there that does their own thing, loves their kid, encourages without pushing them to move past their friend's kid developmentally, and understands that no matter how many grilled cheese sandwiches their kid eats, the only person's judgement that matters at the end of the day is the little kid in front of them. And frankly what my little person understands is being fed, being played with, and being loved. So today at least, I've gotten a glowing review.