05/18/2017
Flash back to 7 years ago to when McKaty was born. I was so determined to everything "right" for this tiny new baby (plus I'm still shocked that they let us bring her home lol). I stressed myself to almost being physically sick trying to do what I thought was the right way because that's what social media and pamplets from the doctor told me to do. One of the biggest things I was super set on was of course breast feeding because I was told that's what was "natural" and the "best for the baby" but probably the biggest reason I was so set on it was because I read some stupid thing about how kids that were breast fed were a "healthier" weight growing up than those that were formula fed. This one hit me HARD because of all the weight problems I had as a kid growing up and I was determined to especially give my daughter the best start in that area of life.
Needless to say I tried the whole breast feeding thing for 6 weeks with McKaty and finally had to give up due to my milk supply, no clue where to turn to for help, a bout with mastitis, having Post Pardum Depression (again no idea about that either), and pure exhaustion and stress. Started feeding her formula the whole time and I cried and felt like a failure and felt like I was setting her up for failure as well.
Well, it's taken me 2 more failed breast feeding attempts (that lasted no more than a week), A LOT of personal development, A LOT of growing up, A LOT of giving people/social media content the bird (about a lot of topics), and 7 years later and guess what...today McKaty is a strong HEALTHY girl who knows she is beautiful and strong. Instead of stressing how I look I stress how strong exercise makes me feel and how I love feeding my body foods to help it be strong. We talk about listening to our bodies and that it's okay to eat treats as long as we don't eat too many because then our bodies will feel icky/sick. I don't talk about to her about how she looks but how STRONG she is along with Kenna AND Carson...because boys need to hear it too.
I parent my kids according to MY style. I vaccinate them, we watch TV all afternoon sometimes, I let them play the computer/phones/tablets, they play outside by themselves, they potty train themselves, I yell at them sometimes, I give them hugs, answer their questions, etc. And with this new baby I'll be formula feeding it from day one and the burden that is NOT on me is so refreshing. Never be afraid to parent how YOU want to parent because honestly it's no one else's dang business how you raise your kids. As long as they're loved and healthy then THAT is all that matters. So mom's know it's okay to give the bird to friends/family/social media etc. that give you grief on how you mother...know that you are the PERFECT mother for YOUR kids.
