As I was cooking up some Easy Mac for my daughter the other day, I laughed. I laughed because I remember a day not that long ago when I said, “My kids will NEVER eat mac ‘n cheese!” Oh, pre-mom Katie. You thought you had it all figured out, didn’t you? In that moment, standing at my kitchen counter, stirring a piping hot microwaved plastic bowl of cheesy noodles, I mentally made a list of all of the things that I do as a mom that I swore I would never do. The list was quite long, but here are 6 of my favorites!
1. “When we have kids, they will not eat hot dogs and mac n’ cheese!”
Me in real life:
2. “When we have kids, we won’t lay with them every night at bedtime. They will be able to put themselves to bed!”
Me in real life:
Note: I actually don’t lay with my son EVERY night. Usually my husband does it!
3. “When we have kids, they will NOT watch TV.”
Me in real life:
4. “When we have kids, our basement will not be an explosion of toys. We will pick up each night and have nice bins to organize everything!”
Me in real life:
5. “When we have kids, they are going to eat green, leafy vegetables like spinach and broccoli!”
Me in real life:
6. “When we have kids, I am not going to breastfeed/formula feed!”
(Yep, I sure said both things!)
I nursed and formula fed both of my babies, and they are just fine. A well fed baby is a happy baby. End of story!
Even though I swore I would never do these things as a parent, I’m not ashamed of the choices I’ve made. Our priorities shift as we realize what matters most: a child that is loved, cherished, cared for, and fed, no matter how we accomplish those things.
Did your pre-kid self have motherhood all figured out? What things did you say you’d never do but you now find yourself doing?
