Ah, parenting. It’s a beautiful, chaotic journey filled with well-meaning advice, unsolicited opinions, and a ton of judgment from the ever-watchful world around us. I never knew how many “experts” there were until I became a mom. Suddenly, it felt like every friend, family member, and stranger in the grocery store had an opinion about how I should raise my daughter, Kylie.
“Are you really going to let her cry it out?” “You should definitely start solids earlier!” “Why isn’t she sleeping through the night yet?” Each piece of advice came wrapped in a shiny bow of confidence, but behind those words lurked a smattering of anxiety. As a new mom, I found myself in the throes of a dilemma: should I stick to my instincts or listen to the multitude of voices weighing in?
In the beginning, I thought I had to adhere to what everyone told me. I googled everything, trying to create the “perfect” parenting style, hoping to follow a roadmap laid out by others. But what I soon realized is that parenting isn’t about following someone else’s playbook. It’s about finding your unique style and embracing it, flaws and all.
I decided to take a leap of faith and trust my instincts—after all, I know Kylie better than anyone. I began to experiment with different approaches to parenting, whether it was in how I handled meltdowns or how I introduced new foods. I learned to adapt to her needs while staying true to myself, creating a blend of styles that felt right for us.
And here’s the thing: it’s okay to let your parenting style evolve. Some days, I’m the strict mom, enforcing nap times and healthy eating habits, while other days, I’m the fun mom, tossing caution to the wind and enjoying ice cream for breakfast. It’s a beautiful balance of structure and spontaneity, a dance that changes as Kylie grows.
Embracing my own parenting style has been liberating. I’ve come to appreciate that there’s no one-size-fits-all approach. The world is filled with endless philosophies on parenting, from gentle parenting to attachment parenting, and while they all have their merits, I’ve learned that what works for one family may not work for another.
For instance, there are days when I allow Kylie to explore independently, knowing she’ll stumble and learn from her mistakes. Other days, I’m right there beside her, guiding her through new experiences. It’s all part of the process, and I’m learning to trust my gut in the moment.
But what about the judgment? Ah, the judgment. It’s there, lurking in the background like a silent critic. I’ve learned to filter out the noise and remind myself that my parenting choices are just that—mine. Not everyone will agree with my decisions, but as long as Kylie is happy, healthy, and thriving, that’s what matters.
At the end of the day, defining my own parenting style is about authenticity. It’s about showing up as my true self, messy hair and all, while embracing the beautiful chaos of motherhood. So, to all the new moms out there navigating the sea of opinions, remember: it’s your journey. Trust your instincts, embrace your unique style, and don’t be afraid to stand tall in the face of criticism.
Because, honestly? The only expert on your child is you.
