Parenting 101 usually means it is on the job training. Sure you may have read a book or two, and gotten some great tips from Great Aunt Mary, but no one is there with the books to tell you exactly how to handle it when your toddler suddenly gets diarrhea in the bathtub.

You instinctively know to yell for Daddy.

…..And when that doesn’t work. You deal with it..

The first years are the hardest – at least from an exhausted point of view. I’ve been known to put toilet paper in the freezer and the formula in the bathroom. And that had nothing to do with getting older. I was just plain tired.

Luckily I have always known exactly where my children were at all times. Attached to me.

I also hear my Mom when K won’t eat and is jumping up and down on the table. Even though she lives thousands of miles away, she has taken over my vocal cords and the words that come out of me are totally familiar in a far off memory sort of way.

It’s chilling.

As I parent I’m trying to use all the best stuff from my Mom and Dad, and learn some new ways of doing things as well. And I’m really working at not bringing my own baggage to the table.

We all have it. Things that should have been different in our childhood but weren’t. You know what I’m talking about. The bad stuff, the scary stuff, and all the things you wish were different that you want to make up for in your children.

I’m here to tell you. Be careful. You don’t want to overcompensate.

K doesn’t need every dance class, over the top birthday parties or music lessons at three.

(Ok, maybe she does).

There are a few things I can learn from my Mom. Like the time I really really wanted to go see the new movie MASH because all my cousins did, but my mom wouldn’t let me. I think I was eleven years old at the time.

I was really pissed and yelled at Mom. I think she walked away.

She walked away from me! I still remember my indignation. I wanted a fight. I wanted to scream and yell and get my own way.

And Mom just walked.

A parenting technique that obviously worked for her sanity.


And I still remember it.


Now that K is coming up to Drama Queen birthday, I'll be using that one more often.

Good Advice Mom.