Parenting
By Jessica Cole
Updated: Feb. 19, 2021
Originally Published: May 26, 2014
My four-year-old burst from his room, toothpaste smeared across his shirt and his sneakers mismatched on his feet. My youngest was hot on his heels, hair and shirt soaking wet.
“What happened?” I asked my eldest, a sense of dread knotting in my stomach as I realized we were already behind schedule. “What did you do?”
While my frustration simmered, my son was completely unaware. “I went to the bathroom, got dressed, and brushed my teeth!” He bounced with excitement.
He had dressed himself, brushed his teeth, and taken care of business—all without my reminders. This was the independence I had been encouraging for years. It was a victory!
Breathe, Jessica. Breathe. (No, I don’t own a dog; I was reminding myself.) I needed to find my calm and quickly. I recalled a friend’s Facebook post:
“Molly came running to me, beaming with pride, only to snap a brand-new crayon in half. ‘Molly!’ I exclaimed, ‘Why did you break that crayon?’ Her joy vanished as she looked at me, wide-eyed, and then burst into tears, explaining through sniffles, ‘I just wanted to show you how strong I was!’”
Molly’s crayon lesson echoed in my mind. Hadn’t I absorbed anything from that moment?
My son wasn’t trying to delay us; he was attempting to help and be self-reliant. He had even taken it upon himself to style his little brother’s hair, which explained the wetness.
Breathe, I reminded myself, and felt the knot in my stomach loosen.
His shoes could be swapped, and his shirt would inevitably get messier as the day went on. This wasn’t a catastrophe; it was just part of the parenting journey.
Truth be told, we were running late for reasons beyond his actions. With three little ones, it was bound to happen. I hadn’t woken them early enough; I had been busy filling water bottles and packing lunches. We were late because, well, life is unpredictable.
And just as fate would have it, chaos ensued as my toddler squatted, his face reddening and grunting.
Yes, now we were truly late.
In this whirlwind of parenting, I found my lesson: Sometimes, it’s about embracing the chaos and celebrating the small wins, like a child’s first steps toward independence—no matter how messy the journey may be. For those navigating similar paths, consider checking out resources on home insemination, such as Cryobaby At Home Insemination Kit or Babymaker At Home Insemination Kit for helpful information. Also, Healthline offers excellent insights into pregnancy and home insemination.
Summary:
In the chaos of parenting, it’s essential to embrace the small victories, like a child’s newfound independence, even when things get messy. Learning to breathe through the frustration can transform chaos into cherished moments.
Keyphrase: Lesson from a Broken Crayon
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