I’d heard it could happen. The more kids that come into a family, the more laid back the parents might become about certain things. They don’t sweat the small stuff. As I parented my son, I honestly couldn’t imagine doing things any different. I certainly would never be the mom letting things slide just because I had more than one kid.
And then, my daughter was born.
Here are my Top Ten things I would have never dared do with my son, but they seemed appropriate for kid #2.
1) Skip a Nap. I worked hard to sleep train both of my kids. However, with my son, I would allow myself to be on full on house arrest in order to accommodate “the schedule”.
2) Watch TV. I deemed it pretty much unacceptable for my son to have screen time before the age of two and absolutely inexcusable before the age of one. I am not ashamed to admit that my newborn daughter would strain her neck while on her play mat to see what her big three-year old brother was watching on tv. I didn’t have the energy to interfere with the situation most of the time.
3) Eat Sugar. I am not exaggerating when I say that my son didn’t even have a real popsicle until over three years old. I would make them. While that is something I still often do in the summer months, I also let both my 5 year old and 2 year old eat the store bought sugar kind. Amongst other treats that I wouldn’t have dared give my son at just two years old.
4) Use A Babysitter Other Than Grandma. I am blessed with a mom and mom in law who not only live within 30 minutes of me but that genuinely love watching my kids and helping out. I want to ensure I am not taking advantage of them so I have also found a couple of trusted babysitters we use from time to time. With two kids, it’s critical for my husband and I to have the occasional date night.
5) Hand Me Downs, Please! I enjoy shopping and with my son, I loved to buy him new clothes. And while shopping for a girl is even more fun in my opinion, I have also learned how fast they grow out of things. I have no shame in taking all hand me downs from my friends with older kids.
6) Live On The Wild Side. I recall being so scared with my son at the playground whenever he would climb too high. That fear is not totally lost on me with my daughter, but she certainly does much more daring things. I have to let her attempt to keep up with her older brother!
7) Go Overnight, Sans Kids. This is one that I struggle with still. But it is something that I do once in awhile whereas with just my son, I would not have. That could also be that nursing leaves us so tied to babies it’s almost more work to go out and bring the breast pump!
8) Not Always Being Eagle Scout Prepared. With my son, I constantly had the giant diaper bag full of everything I could possibly need. The second time around, I tend to take more chances. However, this one came to bite me. Blowout. No Diaper. No Wipes. Enough said. Maybe being prepared should not be compensated.
9) Skip the Baby Book. For my son I have a shutterfly book of my pregnancy photos, first 6 months, first year, second year and third year. You guessed it, for my daughter, I have nothing. I do have a pretty well filled out baby book. But the photo ones are something I have been putting off for two years.
10) Not Worrying About Every Little Detail. As long as I pick my kids up every day in one piece, I am happy. With my son, I would ask for a daily report. Every. Single. Day. My daughter is smiling when I pick her up? Good enough for me, see you tomorrow.
If I am more lenient with only two kids, I can only imagine how I would be with three or four. For those with big families, I am guessing you truly don’t have the time or energy to sweat any of the small stuff.
Can you relate to this? What would you NEVER have allowed the first time around?
