1. Adding PG's coming home outfit to the bag of clothes to be given to a friend of the family's new grandbaby - check. Done that. But at least I still have the precious little turtle jacket that was the show stealer for the outfit. And the socks, too...I think.
2. This is the year of firsts for PG. First bath, first shopping trips, first tastes of real food, and of course first holidays. I've always wanted to be one of those moms that document everything with pictures. However, because of my 'Bad Mommy' tendencies, this hardly ever happens.
For PG's first Halloween, I was on top of getting plenty of pictures. My mom had planned the photo shoots. We got pictures in her costume(s) and in cute little Halloween outfits. All. Over. It.
I even Picnik-ed the picture! I was determined to not be the 'Bad Mommy' this time. Little did I know, medical school definitely had other plans. Naturally, the week of Halloween not only would I have to practice the neurology part of the physical exam (which I hadn't learned yet) on a standardized patient that ultimately helps decide whether I am suited to move on to wards in May, but I also had a test just a few days after Halloween. So missing the 'first' Halloween - check. Done that.
3. Sadly, 'Bad Mommy' did not limit herself to Halloween. Next holiday....Thanksgiving. I was determined not to be a 'Bad Mommy' even more than before, especially after the Halloween tragedy. No studying for this mommy during the week of Thanksgiving. I'll catch up later. Thanksgiving Day rolled around, my pumpkin cake looks like perfection. My hair is actually fixed for the first time since...well, a longer amount of time than I'm willing to admit. PG is dressed in her Thanksgiving outfit. We're packed, in the car and going to my grandparents' house earlier than expected. Sounds great, right? But then we arrived at my grandparents' house...
PG's teething. For those without much experience with small children, you might be thinking, "so what does that matter?" I, too, used to think teething was no big deal - just a little cranky child. However, apparently the incoming teeth are somehow directly connected to the GI tract. Who knew? PG's Thanksgiving 'present' for us - a diaper explosion which required a bath and a change of clothes. My family got a nice laugh. My grandmother got a lemony fresh, cleaned bath tube. PG got poop in her eyebrow. And, I got another thing to add to my list of 'Bad Mommy' things - no pictures in the 'first Thanksgiving outfit - check. Done that, too.
4. Not feeding your child all the things the pediatrician says to feed them at a certain age - check. Done that. When we took PG to her 9 month appointment, I foolishly asked the doctor about feeding her meat - a question I thought was pretty innocent. However, the looks of disapproval and proceeding explanation that we were supposed to have been feeding her meat for the last 3 months busted our parenting bubble. Oops.
Although, in my defense, I looked for the 6 month appointment meal plan sheet thingy and no mention of meat or egg yolk. (Who gives their child egg yolk anyways?!) So we decided to give it a try. We learned quickly that meat and egg yolk make her gag. Literally. I've never seen her hold food in her mouth until it makes her gag. I've never seen her karate chop an incoming spoon of food so quickly that is covers everyone and everything within in 6 foot radius. She's talented. And, apparently a vegetarian.
5. Sippy cups - check. Give my child one everyday. Apparently sippy cups are the devil and the root of all behavioral issues in most children. 'Bad Mommies' use sippy cups. So I guess good mommies who allow their children to use a normal cup have much more time on their hands than I do. More power to them.
6. Not putting hair bows on my child - check. Do that often. If I had a dollar for every time PG gets 'mistaken' for a boy child, I'd have quite the sum of money to put in her savings account. Just because there is not some ridiculously over-sized bow on my child's head, who happens to be dressed in girly looking clothes and sitting in her pink stroller with her purple paci and her purple butterfly blanket, does not mean that she is any less of a girl. I think these encounters are often a test of my patience - just to make sure I'm ready to be tested hourly when PG starts walking and talking. In my mind I have already crow-hopped across the floor and knocked the front teeth out of the individual who just insulted us; however, out loud I politely smile and make sure I include the word SHE into my next statement to said individual.
I'm sure there are plenty of other 'Bad Mommy' moments that I've already done, and more than that are waiting to happen. However, these are the first 6 that are applicable to my every day life. Even though, this year is the year of firsts for PG, she's not going to remember them. The real firsts will come for her in the coming years, and those are the moments that I cannot wait for. Currently, I am hoping that she will not start walking while she stays with my mom. And I beg my mom daily to push her down if she tries to walk (even though I know she won't do it). I was there when she rolled over for the first time and crawled for the first time, and I don't want to miss her first steps. But, I will sacrifice missing her 'first' Halloween this year to better our lives so that I won't have to miss her first day of school or her first t-ball game because I have to work.
