Real Milestones
Of course we are thrilled when our children start crawling, walking and talking. But we are downright ecstatic when they master a few of the skills your Plunket nurse probably won't be asking about. Like the time your child said "thank you" to someone without being elbowed or the time they walked past the kiddie ride at the supermarket without screaming "Me want!".
These are the holy-grail milestones for most mums - the things that make family life easier, give you a moment's peace, or help you save face in public. The only catch: unlike your child's first pearly tooth, you play a role in making these convenient achievements happen. Yes, this means "parenting". Practising what we preach is easier than it sounds. A four year habit of yelling "shuddup!" whenever our dog barks manically at an innocent bird in the backyard had to be changed to actually walking outside and sternly calling her name. A lot of extra work but the horrific thought of our toddler yelling "shuddup" in public whenever he hears a dog bark is motivation enough. We should really take stock and look at what our manners are like. "Please" and "Thank you" are two words I say often in public but not much at home. I really have made an effort to change my answer from "yeah" when my husband asks if I want a cuppa to "yes please". I am now thinking about whether I should make a habit of knocking on the bathroom door before entering!
But hey, what about milestones for mummies? As a first-time mum we experience quite a few of our own. It took me four months before I felt confident enough to go grocery shopping on my own with our baby. Think of some of your own. What about the time someone asked you for baby advice? Didn't you feel flattered that someone actually thought you knew what you were doing?
So celebrate the achievements that aren't in the Well-Child books because these real milestones make being a mummy worth while!