There is no parenting 101

There is no way to parent your child. Everyone has their own way. I often feel like as parents we get caught up in what you should do. Or how parenting looks on social media.

Recently, I’ve started being active on social media again. I find that there are a lot of great resources for parents on social media. I also find myself getting more worried about how I am parenting my daughter. Making sure she has a sleep schedule, an eating schedule, do I do baby led weaning, etc. I mean there are a million and one things you’re “suppose to do” as a parent. If you don’t make sure your child has a schedule and is eating all the right foods, and all the things, you feel criticized.

The last two weeks I have been really cherishing the connection I have with my daughter. Just loving on her, and cuddling her as much as I can. That means when it’s time for nap I’ve been putting her down in my bed on my her own. Once she starts crying, I let her cry for a couple minutes. Then I go in and cuddle with her until she falls asleep. I absolutely love this, because there is nothing better than cuddling with her and watching her fall asleep. Is it so bad that I don’t let her cry it out, or make her sleep in her own bed?

Be confident in your parenting

Another thing I’ve been seeing a lot of is baby led weaning. It sounds cool, but I feel super uncomfortable doing that with my child. So I’m not going to do it. I feel like social media and just in general, a lot of pressure is put on parents to do the “right” thing. I am slowly figuring out there is no damn right way! Whatever way you are managing is the right way.

Some days in my household we have what are called cuddle days. We stay in bed all day, watch movies, cuddle, and play with toys. And that’s okay. As moms we think we need to do everything, perfectly right. Why do we think this way? Well for me personally, I don’t want to be judged. I don’t want people telling me their opinions on how I should raise my daughter. Most of all I want my daughter to turn out amazing. If I just do things by the book, conventionally, and how social media does it, then hopefully I won’t be judged, people won’t tell me how to raise my daughter, and she’ll turn out amazing.

Do what’s good for you!

I just have to laugh a little, because I am realizing that none of that stuff is true. And if it is, oh my gosh, who cares! It’s all about being confident in who you are as a parent. I am loving this cuddle time with my daughter so I am going to take it. Not worry about making sure she’s learning to sleep on her own. She’ll be okay. I am loving watching her learn how to eat her puree’s and use a spoon. So, I am not going to worry about seeing baby led weaning all over social media. She’ll be okay. Most importantly, being confident in who I am as a mother means who cares what other people say. Do what’s good for you and your child, because only you know.

That’s parenting 101.