Parenting....

UNLeashed...

Parenting is a funny thing.  Somewhere at some point, I made an actual list of things I vowed never to do as a parent.  I remember harshly judging (to myself) a family member as she handed her fit throwing toddler a Popsicle.  I remember hardly judging parents of Wal-Mart with their out of control brats children.  Judging is a funny thing.  And I knew it all, that was, before I became a mother.

Then the book goes out the window.  Because here is the thing.  Every parent.  Every child.  Every circumstance is different.  

We are having to make some adjustments in our life.  Truth be told, it is a short jump from pelvic rest to bed rest, so I guess I should take it seriously before I end up on bed rest.  Meaning, no sex, no exercise, and no lifting.  Basically, not doing more than I absolutely have to.  

This is hard.  It is hard for me to believe I am actually pregnant, let alone having a "complicated" "high risk" pregnancy.  When I look down, all I see is an extra 20lbs I put on.  Pregnant? God I hope so, but it just doesn't feel real until the bump is there and noticeable to all.  So I feel so silly taking it easy.  Nothing hurts.  I just feel like I am being a lazy diva ( and I think my husband somewhat feels the same at times)

*Side note:  I know how the rumor mill flies.  Yes, last week I was super sick and ended up in the hospital for a few hours for an IV.  BUT I am much better and the baby was doing fine throughout the whole ordeal so everything is a-o-kay now.  And I totally made up for the pounds I lost from the flu.*

But I can't lift my kid.  Not into a shopping cart.  Not off the ground if she is throwing a biggie sized fit.  Nothing.  SO which brings me back to that judgey list of mine.  Putting my child on a leash was a "never in a milllion years".  Never.  No way.  My mom suggested it and I shot it down quicker than anything ever.  Nope.  Not going to happen.  Well this weekend at the lake, Haley insisted that my mom clip the dog's leash onto her pants and then Haley asked me to "walk her".  So we walked around on the leash and she thought it was majorly cool and special.

So then I revisited the idea and bought her a monkey harness backpack.  

I did a little research to make sure I wasn't encouraging my daughter to grow up and be into S&M--and I guess there is no research suggesting such, so I braved the public and tried it out.   Actually, a lot of doctors recommend them because they keep kiddos safe and dislocated arms from hand hold or pulling is common. The truth is, she likes being leashed.  And so do it.

Haley is a different child.  She doesn't really care to hold my hand, it slows her down too much.  She is busy and she wants to go-go-go.  BUT she doesn't know what I know about cars and strangers and how people at  Wal-Mart don't want all the merchandise knocked to the floor.  So the leash allows her to walk (and even jog around) the store with me, happily.  No hand holding required (her choice not mine, I like holding hands).  She move around freely and jump around, but stays a safe distance with me.  I can gently guide her along in my direction--and she mostly doesn't even seem to notice being "redirected" from things I don't want her to touch.  It is kinda a crazy thing.  

The only down fall is that people give you looks.  I expected it, because I would have given someone a look too.  One guy asked Haley, "Your mom isn't really that mean is she?"  Whatever.  I deserve it because I handed out plenty of judgement, and if they know about my complicated placenta, maybe they would understand.  

But it works for us, my child seems happy with it.  And that, they say, is that.  

And just for laughs: