Goodbyes' Suck

Back in the day, and by that I mean a year ago, K would scream and cry for me when I would drop him off at daycare. It tore at my heart. It also made me long for the days where he would no longer be suffering through separation anxiety. I hated seeing him go through that and I hated having to leave him so I could go to work. Mom guilt at its finest, I tell ya'.

I never wanted him to be okay with me leaving him, but I wanted the anxiety to be over. And it is. He is a very independent 2 year old now, and his longing for mom to stick around a little longer is fading. It is being replaced with the interest in other kids at daycare, the fun crafts he is going to make, and the knowing that he will have a fun day and be well taken care of. And all of that makes me happy and makes me feel better about his day while I am gone. But...

Now instead of trying to extricate myself from surprisingly strong little hands and of cries of "Mom! Mom!", he happily joins in on the fun whilst I easily leave and walk to my car... head hung low just wishing he would yell for his mama one last time. And in case you are wondering, no I do not want my son to cry uncontrollably and experience anxiety. I just selfishly crave the verbal affirmation that he needs me.

Because he is growing up. He is 2!! Seriously, what am I going to do when he gets his driver's license and a car, or goes off to college? I'm not exactly sure what I may do but if you know me this is what YOU should do...lock me up :) Because I just might lose it!

It takes a village...

...or a Facebook group.

I wrote a post and made a joke about how Pinterest may end up raising my child. (Which reminds me that I must check my Pinterest.) At the time I didn't realize how social media or the internet would become such an integral part of my life when it came to raising my son. And not in the WebMD, obsessed way. In the "I have friends online that know what they are talking about" way.

I have always believed the old adage "It takes a village to raise a child". I am lucky enough that I have family and friends that watch Kendrick while his Dad and I are at work. It makes me sad that I miss some new funny thing that he does, but it makes me happy that they get to experience him growing into a fun, little person. But, I digress.

When I was pregnant, I often visited a website for moms and moms-to-be and had the pleasure of making internet mommy friends. Even though they started out as perfect strangers, they helped me keep my sanity, gave me sound advice,  made me laugh, and continue to give me amazing support. I felt like I was part of the Cool Moms Club long before Kendrick got here. We built friendships and eventually a Facebook group, that I will be the first to admit, I am addicted to. I've said it before. It's like match.com for pregnant chicks. Although we are all way past that stage. I love that I have these girls in my life. My online support group for sleep deprived moms!

So my point is this. I received some sound advice to never be afraid to ask for help. If you need it, seek it out. No one knows everything. And if you think you do, you don't know squat. Becoming a mom will teach you that. I was gearing up for taking on any and every challenge of mommyhood. Even though Nick was there to help, I had to learn how to ask for it. So I realize this now. It really does take a village.

My village just happens to be half digital.

I thought playing outside was free...

     So I was perusing the internet about mommy stuff, which by the way has taken up my life, and I came across this little gem of an article. Now I am not one to judge, but who would pay a woman to sit a block away drinking coffee while your child played unsupervised in Central Park?

     Yes. You read me right. I completely agree that children playing outside for hours at a time is a lost art. Growing up, my mom would kick us out of the house during the summer. We could come in to eat, pee, and nap. That was it. We had shade, a garden hose, unrelenting energy, and an awesome imagination. And somehow an endless supply of slip and slides! We were forced to get creative to have fun and learn how to interact with other kids. We didn't run around causing trouble. Well, most of us didn't. And, hallelujah, we survived adolescence!!! How can that be?!

      But you better believe my mother and every mother on that block knew where we were at all times. There is absolutely no way my mother would let us loose in Central Park unsupervised. Probably for the sake of other people, but that isn't the point.

     While I agree with this woman, and encourage independence, my son will have all the chances in the world to get his energy out on a playground, while I sit back and keep at least one eye on his whereabouts. Look at that! I just saved myself $350 big ones! I think I will treat myself to some new shoes!!