Being a parent has given me the highest highs and lowest lows of my life. It is a never-ending blindfolded roller coaster. Is it like I anticipated? No. I could never have fully prepared for this- because everything about being a parent is so split second. Did working in childcare for 7 or 8 years help? I think so because, especially at first, it gave me confidence. I had experience with small children and new pretty much all the "physical" basics...so in that way I guess I was prepared...but emotionally? No way. Everyday is still a challenge in one way or another.
One of the hardest things for me right now is finding the balance between letting Lily (and Kendra) figure stuff out on their own and just me getting it done. I always help Lily get dressed in the morning- not because she can't do it but because that is just the routine. Lately I have been trying to have her do more of her morning routine on her own. The more she does on her own, the less I have to do and the later I can wake up. Its a win win for me, right? Oh and uh so she can become more independent, yeah, that too. But it feels like a constant tug-of-war. Help or don't help when they want it or when they don't. This weekend Lily and Kendra asked if they could clean their bathroom. Um...YES!!! Except I left them to it and came back to puddles of water on the floor and bar soap being used to "clean" the counter. Lesson learned. Awesome they want to help, but they still need supervision.
I think they are both doing great but parenting- even really well behaved kids-is seriously mentally exhausting.
Even so...I try to enjoy where they are at today because I know tomorrow or in an hour it could all completely change.
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as high as the sky and past the sun