There is a small canvas that hangs in my family room that reads, “Let them be little.” The canvas was originally purchased purely because it fits perfectly with my forming gallery wall. As a control freak, I have made the recent revelation though, that perhaps this quote is exactly what my parenting needed. I realize the phrase written on the canvas is not a new thought or idea, but it is new to me. So, in an attempt to live by the quote and not by my nagging, control-minded, head-voice, I have made the pledge…to…let…my…kids…be…little.
Tuning Myself Out
Obviously, this quote and my type-A, uber-controlling, head-voice are having a tough time becoming one with one another. I find myself constantly telling my head-voice to quiet down, quit worrying about the messes, the dirt, the crayon on the walls, and the crumbs on the floor. Instead, I have been trying to instill a laid-back approach…which by the way, is terribly difficult.
My Plan of Attack
I have found that in order to be successful in this uncharted territory, I needed to come up with a plan – a statement, something, anything I could refer to in times of control freak breakdown.
My pledge to this lifestyle is this:
1. I will let them get dirty by jumping in puddles, playing in the mud, and running in the rain. I am still working on the sand. Sand and I have a strained relationship.
2. I will look the other way at the occasional bomb of puzzle pieces, Legos, books, and random Lightning McQueen memorabilia that litter the family room.
3. I will let them eat – insert completely inappropriate food item here – for dinner. Primarily because these requests typically follow a grocery store trip and who wants to cook after that fiasco?
4. I will be okay with the spontaneous fun of wanting to run through the landscape sprinklers at the grocery store or swim in the pool at a birthday party we are completely unprepared for.
5. I will bite my tongue when they want to pick out their own mismatched, too big/small clothes and let them wear said clothes in public, around other people.
6. I will encourage them to make more of their non-essential to life decisions regardless of the outcome.
7. I will not suggest alternatives to requests to get out the Play-Dough, craft with glitter, or finger paint with paint, shaving cream, pudding, etc.
The Results Are In
This transition is not going well, but in order to prevent future mom tantrums, I have upped my preparedness game. The key to my sanity has been a stockpile of extra clothes, towels, lotions, wipes, or whatever it may be, for both at home and on the road. Preparation has made impromptu stops at splash pads, rain puddles, and messy craft projects less stress-inducing and more enjoyable for both the kiddos and me. Now that I have embraced my kids’ littleness, on to my next task…accepting a life where sand is a welcomed play thing, gulp.
