This guest post was written by Kayla Dar. She is a mother of three (with one more on the way!). She is a homeschooling, baby wearing, breastfeeding, co-sleeping mom who is on the staff for Fayye Foundation. She also founded the web community Baby’s Breastie, where moms come together to support underprivileged and teen moms who want to breastfeed.
The greatest thing about having kids is watching them meet their milestones. They go from squishy, floppy, sleepy, sweetness to crawling, walking, talking little people. My kids seem to be evolving faster than I can keep up.
I kind of view milestones as a mother’s goal for her children. When your child has reached an anticipated milestone or surprises you with an unforeseen accomplishment it is the ultimate sense of your own self accomplishment – a really incredible feeling. It’s like when your kid decides to crap in the potty for the first time, no one else cares that your kid now knows it’s uncool to poop his pants. But to you, there is nothing more delighting than to know your kid has moved on to the next phase. Before having 3 kids, I thought parents clapped with great excitement around the toilet because they were celebrating the fact that they never had to wear their kids poo on their shirt for half of a day unknowingly. Yet, it is none of those things you are celebrating. It is the fact that your kid has made it to his next milestone. You are proud, you have worn that poop with pride and here is the reward.
By the time kids reach the age of 4 or five, you begin to realize they want not only for you to be proud of them, but to be proud of themselves as well. In knowing that, and finally having to accept that my kids are growing into young men and a young lady, I wanted to see what their goals are for themselves. Last Saturday, we spent the day just hanging out. During lunch, we decided to document the things they want to accomplish by the time they are 25. I recommend all parents to engage in a similar conversation; you will be surprised to know the goals and standards they set for themselves. I laughed so hard, but felt an overwhelming sense of pride hearing the things that they want to do. Here is the list for my 3 kids:
Mason (9)
Build a business
Play NFL
Be a police man
Get straight a’s
Go to College
Go to Alaska
Invent something
Go on an airplane
Go to California
Go to Africa
Go to New York
Go to the North Pole
Hamza (5)
Be a cowboy
Be a gardener
Play NFL
Be a Police Man
Meet Penguins
Swim with dolphins
Work at a zoo
Pro swimmer
Pro Boxer
Be a horse trainer
Be an icecream maker
Go to LA
Go to Africa
Go to India
Go to college
Go to outerspace
Go on a train
Aisha (2)
Get a baby
Be a ‘rina’ (Ballerina)
