Learning all the answers

Party Day
Originally uploaded by kristn1284

There was this time in my life I now refer to as BC, Before Children. Although 35 years long, I don’t remember a whole lot of this time. But I know this, I had all the answers. After all I had spent many a time observing other people raising their children so of course I was well qualified to know what they were doing wrong. I smugly held the knowledge of how I could do better if only given the chance.

Case in point: My children would never be commercialized. They would play with old fashioned blocks, toy trains, Golden Books. No my children would not be made into walking advertisements for Disney; I would not pay money to further profit the man. No character toys, clothes and so on.

You know what I found out? These things make my daughter happy. I learned from the start there wasn’t much I wouldn’t do to make my daughter smile. So as the Sesame Street shirts and Dora cell phones made their way into my life I realized my resolve was broken. From the first time Annabelle read a Thomas the Tank Engine book she was smitten. I swear when I am old and demented I will be reciting “Happy Birthday Thomas” as it is forever embedded in my brain after reading no less than 5000 times between ages 6 & 18 months to Annabelle.

As I sat at my dining room table the morning of my daughter’s 2nd Birthday Party I looked around at the Minnie Mouse theme, Dora placemat, Elmo booster seat that surrounded me and realized back then, I really didn’t have all the answers. Hearing her say “Annabelle is very pleased” upon seeing the decorations I knew I was finally getting a clue.