Getting Real

Recently I was at the library picking out DVDs for Josh and I and then for the kids.  I was in the kids section looking at movies and a women approached me and says, "Now you know t.v. is NOT a babysitter."

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Where to even begin. First off, let's start by saying parenting isn't a "black and white" subject.  Yes there are some definite "wrongs" and there are some definite "rights", but it's not all right and wrong, so...sit back, relax, and come along with me as I pull off the mask and unveil what "mommy hood" is REALLY about.

There's a scene from Sex and the City 2 believe it or not, that is my absolute favorite and I was extremely impressed with the reality of it.  Now I might not get it perfect, but to sum up it's with Charlotte in her kitchen with her two girls, approx five years old and the other was an infant.  Her nanny (which we all have of course) wasn't there and she was trying to bake a bunch of stuff (I believe for her oldest daughter's school or something).  The baby was crying, she was trying to bake, the phone rang, she was on the phone, and the oldest girl comes up trying to get her attention in the midst of all the chaos and ends up getting some food substance all over Charlotte's skirt.  After this Charlotte just loses it.  Loses it and retreats to the pantry crying, only to be found moments later by her nanny.  I love this because every single parent has had those moments.  The whole movie Charlotte tried to play the part of the "perfect mom", but none of us are perfect, and every parent can relate to that moment.

So....let's get back to this "t.v. isn't a baby sitter" crap.  Besides the fact that it was absolutely none of this lady's business how my kids spend their time, I am NOT a believer in "t.v. rots the brain".  Do I think a two year old (or any age child) should be glued to the t.v. every waking hour? No.  But do I think t.v. is going to kill brain cells?  Absolutely not.  And guess what?  For me, t.v. CAN be a wonderful "babysitter".  I have three small children.  Some weeks I don't get to shower for two days straight.  T.V. is a miraculous invention in my book, and depending on what you're letting your kids watch, it can be very "enlightening" so to speak.  Shit, I have to give partial credit to Mickey Mouse Clubhouse for my kids' love of counting.  Yeah maybe Josh and I laid the foundation, but that show made it fun and interesting and exciting for them to do.  Plus, you don't just have to plop your kids in front of a television.  Half the time I'm watching these shows with them and asking them questions and encouraging them.  Now "Happy Feet" (one of the movies I rented) that's just for fun, but who doesn't like a little fun now and again?

And this all brings me to my main point.  It's not "black and white" and nobody's perfect.  I certainly don't claim to be.  My kids watch cartoons and eat donuts.  They drink juice and TONS of chocolate milk.  Some days Coop and Chlo still like to drink from a bottle.  Okay, MOST days.  I don't always style Chloe's hair and sometimes I forget to brush their teeth.  Some days they wear mis-matched clothes, and some days they don't wear clothes at all (that's attributed to easier potty training of course).  I still cuddle them as much as I can, and I'll still rock them to sleep, when they let me LOL  I don't do everything the right way.  I do it MY way, which is the best way I know how.

Does that make it wrong? No.
It makes it real.

So do I have to feel ashamed when some random women attempts to call me out in the library?  Nope.  We're all people, and we're all human, even if we are parents.

Now if you're a parent or a soon-to-be parent, and you're still confused as to what is "right" and "wrong" in the parenting world, I have a few helpful hints I wanted to add in here at the end.  Enjoy ;)

Well there they are.  20 some odd tips for taking care of baby.  Apparently a t.v. over the crib is a "no no".  Oops. LOL

Thanks for reading everyone.  Hope you all enjoyed it.