Let Kids Be Kids

I’ve always been the type of friend that would try my friend’s drink without even thinking about germs. Especially in the days when we would make some crazy concoction out of the most random bottles of alcohol because that’s all we could get our hands on while being underage. Captain Morgan with Cotton Candy Pinnacle and pineapple syrup? As long as it gets the job done, right?! 🍺

Now that I’m a liiiitle bit more “adulty” these days with being a mom, I definitely send a stink eye over to a person coughing in the same room I’m in. It’s as if I’m trying to telekinetically tell them “Not today, Satan.” I am also the type of person that if someone coughs near me, I instantly hold my breath thinking it will help protect me. But then I usually exhale right away because I get worried I breathed in their diseases. And then I realize my entire process just made me whiff them…purposely not on purpose. 🤦‍♀️

Since joining “motherhood”, I have become a germ conscious parent. I think Ben is even moreso than me. 🤣 And that’s why I didn’t tell him that I let Waylin ride Sandy, the horse at Meijer. I had always gotten away with telling her I don’t have any money for her to ride Sandy bareback. 🏇 But then came along this day in July where my mostly-perfect shopper was O-V-E-R everything involving shopping. She was crying and trying to climb out of the cart. I frantically looked around hoping that no one was noticing…everyone within 10 feet was looking. Hi….ugh.

Insert stage left, Sandy. While the cashier was trying to pack up my groceries as fast as she could (probably because she was sick of the whining and crying too), I imagined how many germs are just on the “Start” button. It’s funny how one promise of a pony ride made Waylin sit up military style with her red, watery eyes and a smile. 😁

Turns out, I can no longer claim no more Sandy rides because it was free. 😮 She loved it. I had to just tell myself that she will live, and we can use an entire packet of wipes and hand sanitizer when we get back to the car! 🤣

I think sometimes we forget how important the little things are to kids. I know I am guilty of always wanting to plan the next “Best Day Ever” for her. On this particular day, she got to ride Sandy and later, we set up her dinosaur pool in the driveway without water and let her play. She had mismatched pajamas on, but does that really matter when she’s having fun? Nahh.

I feel like I finally get it. I get why parents sit down and obsess over every little thing their child does. I mean, this blog is a testament to that, right?! But, I truly understood why on this late summer night. I love seeing what she decides to do. She was organizing her ball pit, and then decided to go grab her dinosaur, sit on him like he was Sandy, and babble about the corn across the street. It doesn’t seem like anything extraordinary when you’re not her parent. But, she is so content with the smallest things and I guess I just envy that feeling.

I can learn a lot from her. And so can Ben.

We have been watering our yard to try to save the grass we planted earlier this Spring. Waylin noticed the sprinkler and was very curious about it. I encouraged her to go check it out, and as soon as I did, Ben said he didn’t think that was a good idea. I feel like Waylin picked up on his hesitation, so she grabbed his hand and pulled him towards the sprinkler as if to tell him, “Dad, this is going to be fun and I want you to have fun too.”

Her little face in this picture tells the story of a happy little girl experiencing her first sprinkler.

Sometimes you just have to let kids be kids, and not worry about every little thing. Because the truth is, she’s not worrying about anything in those moments. She’s just happy. And I think that’s the way to live your life at any age! ❤