Home

I bet you think I’m going to write about food or clothing, don’t you?  Nope.  Although I do have those leanings toward organic food and eco-friendly/body-friendly/non-synthetic clothing, I am a walking dichotomy.  I have been known to shop at major discount stores where just about nothing is organic to save money.  A Mommy has to strike a balance wherever she can.  I’d love to have the luxury of spending as much as I’d need to in order to be completely eco-friendly but in this one-income household, we need to prioritize.  But, I digress.

I wasn’t I’m not going to write about organic food or clothing today.  I’m writing about letting things happen organically.  Last week during our First Birthday Picture Extravaganza  we found a cute little area in the mall with these fiberglass cars, crawl tunnel, bridge, funky mirrors, and twirly things on the walls that had a TON of kids running around.  So we waited for our pictures to develop while playing and watching the other kids.  Tater Tot had a ball and, I think, developed a crush on a little boy while there (she just kept staring at him and tried to reach out and touch him).  We had a good time.  So, today after our major discount store run we went over there to play again.  I knew I was pushing it trying to get a store run and some play time in before we got home but I thought she’d enjoy it.  Well, when we got there, there were 5 kids there and three of them were screaming their heads off and running around at breakneck speeds.  Needless to say, Tater Tot, who doesn’t get out much was a little frightened by it and clung to The Mommy.  Then I started to smell a smell that I hoped was not coming from my child.  But wherever we went, there it was.  So I could only conclude that it could possibly be coming from The Tot.  Time to go because I pulled a Rookie Mommy maneuver and did not bring the diaper bag.  Tater rarely needs changing when we’re out and about and this was supposed to be a quick trip so I thought I could swing it.  Yet another reason I’m not in the running for Mother of the Year. 

We got back in the car and luckily The Tot didn’t throw a fit.  She played happily in the back on the way home and I, strangely enough, no longer smelled the smell.  I hauled her to the changing table as soon as we got home and there was no pooky to be found.  Huh.  But it was good that we left when we did because she was a Hungry Girl and ready for nap time.  Just goes to show this Mommy that sometimes the things that are the most fun are the things that aren’t planned.  Sometimes the plan just doesn’t work out.  Go with the flow, Mommy!

Post script: This applies to developmental stuff too.  When I find myself comparing notes with other mothers, their offspring is inevitably “ahead” of The Tot but Tater ends up getting to it when she is good and ready and well within the range of normal.  So far I’ve been able to squash that urge to do more than “gently encourage” activities because I just think that it’s better for it to happen “organically”.  Better for her, better for me.  Better for everybody.