For me, time used to be marked by things like: when I would finally be old enough to vote, or old enough to order a beer.... or just old (when I would turn 30).
Other things in life we measure ourselves with are milestones like graduating college, getting married or buying a house. Yet all that has changed now that I have a son. Instead of counting time in years or accomplishments for myself, I'm instead focused on how many weeks or months my son has been alive, and what he's learning and can now do.
We were doting over him when he babbled his first word (well ahead of schedule), and he's eating food like a champ. It's human nature to feel proud of these trivial accomplishments when you are a first time parent, but I'm also careful not to get too hyped or disappointed at these things either.
For example.... the books say he should also be rolling over by now, but.......
He can do this and roll half way over, but not all the way. Should I be disappointed? I'm not. I've seen in the past parents that go ga-ga over the smallest things and fret and worry because a supposed milestone is not coming on the time-line they imagined.
Last I checked, babies are babies exactly once in life. I don't want deadlines to be a part of that carefree babbling-spitting-gassy world. Take it from a reporter with deadlines every day... they are not fun, and I'd take teething again over meeting my deadlines any day. Don't get me wrong, I'll always work with Sebastian to get smarter, quicker, healthier, and happier, but if he misses a milestone by a week or so.... his smile tells me that's OK.
For now, we're measuring milestones like this.
His first election:
Sebastian seems to be doing wonderful!!
Throw out all those books and enjoy your son!
My son didnt walk till he was 2 and didnt say his 1st word till then as well. But he did SO MANY other great things in the process!
Have a great Thanksgiving next week and cant wait to see how Sebastian liked Turkey dinner! lol
Posted by: megan | November 20, 2008 at 07:15 AM