What Kind of Parent Am I?

Before I had my daughter I knew exactly what kind of parent I would be! I was going to be the mom that only gave her baby organic baby food that I made from scratch at home. I would dress the baby in the cutest outfits that would always be clean and I wouldn't let the baby watch television or ever have a pacifier!

Funny how high our standards can be before we're in the situation...

Even when I found out I was pregnant I just knew that I was going to be that mom that could do it all. My child would be a model child that never threw temper tantrums in public or had accidents at inconvenient times. My rose colored glasses evaporated quickly upon my daughters arrival.

All parents will tell you that they have the perfect child. I myself often wanted to exaggerate how long my daughter would sleep through the night at first just to try and prove that I was a great mom and my daughter was the greatest. Now, before I continue I'd like to impress the fact that in my eyes my daughter is perfect but I am not unaware of her quirky personality.

Early on it was evident that I did not have the easiest baby around. My friend had apparently given birth to the happiest baby known to man. We would hang out at a mutual friends house and while Kai screamed and fussed unless I was holding her, Sebastian was happy and smiling no matter what. When they got tired Kai just fussed more while Sebastian happily went to sleep on our friends bed. So although my daughter was happy for me she was a finicky baby.

For the longest time nobody but I could hold her. She would cry and scream if I walked away from her unless we were just at the house. Thankfully she has outgrown that stage of clingy to me constantly and I feel that is due in large to Richie coming into our lives and helping give more than just me to depend on.

So the question remains, what kind of parent am I? I give my daughter a pacifier because she is the type of girl who puts everything in her mouth. Honestly I'd rather have her sucking on a pacifier than chewing on a rock! I didn't make her baby food at home because I couldn't afford to and she is completely healthy! As for the outfits, well most days I'll dress her, at least I do if we plan on leaving the house. I put an extra outfit in her bag but I rarely put it on because I know for a fact that its just going to be as dirty as the outfit she's wearing in no time at all. I allow her to watch a show in the morning since we're both still sleepy and a lot of the shows are educational and she doesn't focus on them most of the time anyway.

Kai does throw a fit when she feels like it (which is a lot more often now that she's teething) but she seems to be outgrowing that as well. I am a parent who is learning everyday. That is the kind of parent I am. No child is alike and so I don't think any two parents can really be alike either. I feel that as long as you love your child with your whole heart then you are the best parent in the world for your kids!