Breast Milk v/s Formula...The Real Truth

Dear Claire,

Lately, and by lately, I mean the last fifty years, the debate of breast milk v/s formula has raged on.

Lots of pressure being put onto mothers regarding their choice (or not!) of how their baby will be fed.  Studies showing that it doesn't matter, studies showing that one is better than the other, studies showing that one will make your baby smarter, study after study after study.

I wonder, will this pressure still exist when you (maybe) have children????

I just want you to know, all the studies are wrong.

I had an epiphany last night while you were in the bath and I realized the liquid that actually makes kids smarter.

It's the bath water sucked out of the face cloth.

That's right. You heard me, the bath water sucked out of the face cloth.

Both your Auntie Andrea and I did this obsessively and between the two of us we have five university degrees, so clearly, it's the bath water that really makes kids smart.

It all came to me in a flash of dirty-water brilliance when I saw you lapping it up in the bathtub yesterday.

So don't worry about what you feed your baby, breast milk or formula, they'll turn out just fine.  Well, just mediocre.  If you really want a smart kid, better get them chugging that bath water a.s.a.p.

There, now you can relax and just enjoy your baby, whatever she/he is drinking.

Love Mom

Love At First Sight *sigh*

Dear Claire,

Since I'm your mother, you probably know by now that I'm not really a "romantic" person.  I find some of it so over-the-top that it makes me cringe and feel icky.  It's just not me.

But I do belive, one hundred percent, in love at first sight.

All sorts of people will say "there's no such thing", but they are wrong.

On January 25, 2010, a tiny, naked, precious, baby girl was put onto my chest.  I looked down at her and a flood of one emotion came over me - love.

I didn't know you.  I had never seen you before.  And yet I loved you immediately, I loved you in that moment and in all of the moments since.

Even when I'm tired and impatient.  Even when you've said "Mommy" eighty-three times before nine a.m.  Even when you put your whole hand in your cup of milk causing it to overflow onto the table and then onto the floor.

I still love you.  You are my favourite little girl in the whole world.

And if someone ever tells you "there's no such thing as love at first sight"; just let your heart smile, because you know there is.

Love you forever,
Mom

 

 

 

It's Their Problem, Not Yours

Dear Claire,

One day, if you become a mother, be prepared to receive an avalanche of "questions", "concerns" and "advice" from friends, family, acquaintaneces and of course, complete strangers.

People are going to want to know what type of labor you're planning (natural or medicated?!), if you're going to breast or bottle feed, what school you're going to send your children to, what solids you plan on feeding them, what clubs you'll sign them up for, and on and on and on.

You'll be able to tell if people ask you these questions because they truly care about you and your children, because they'll be a huge fan and one-hundred percent supportive of whatever your answers are.

If they question and critique your choices and/or decisions, chances are they're just trying to make themselves feel better about the decisions they've made.  It's not your problem.

Here's the thing...parenting is mostly a guessing game and usually done through trial and error.  Sure there's some decisions made based on your values, but most of the time you're just  making decisions based on what feels best for you and your family. 


You don't ever have to explain or justify your parenting decisions to anyone.  As long as you feel right about what you're doing, than you've done a fantastic job. 

So my advice to you is to take the critics with a grain of salt, and just be grateful that you're happy and confident in whatever way you've chosen to raise your beautiful children.

Love you and your choices!
Mom