22/06/2022
It’s okay if your child still has a bottle after 1 years old.
It’s okay if your 3 year old still has a dummy for bedtime and isn’t letting it go anytime soon.
It’s okay if your 4 year still doesn’t sleep through the night.
It’s okay if your child didn’t take to potty training on the 1st, 2nd or 3rd go.
It’s okay if your 5 year old still has a comforter that they carry everywhere.
It’s okay if your 1 year old can’t drink from an open cup.
It’s okay if your child prefers squash over water.
It’s okay if your child prefers toast over lasagne.
It’s all okay. Before I had children, I used to watch certain shows where they portrayed ‘That parent’, as the judgemental arse because someone else’s child had chocolate instead of carrot sticks and I always thought it was exaggerated. Nope, it’s not. They’re everywhere and the older Charlie gets, the more I’m discovering.
There are SO. MANY. MILESTONES that you’re expected to hit/tick off some invisible parenting list and some of them are going to slip. It’s okay.
Have you ever seen a 40 year old wearing a nappy? (my friend went on bumble date with someone who liked to act like a baby but that doesn’t count 😂)
Have you ever watched your boss drink her morning cup of coffee and thought ‘F**k me Janet, you can tell you had a bottle past 18 months old’
No. Because In the long run it doesn’t matter. Yes as parents we have a duty of care (obvs) so we should and do care about our child’s teeth, diet, sleep etc but that’s the PARENTS Job. Not the judgey parent at nursery drop off, or your judgey in laws or the judgey childless person raising their hypothetical children. It’s your job, so do what’s best for you and your child. And try not to beat yourself up so much in the process. No one’s getting it 100% right.
And if you find yourself judging someone else for THEIR parenting choices, maybe grab a cocktail or have an orgasm…lighten up a bit. Life’s too short.
