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Home » Practical Parenting Tips » What I Learned when my Baby Ruined my Bedding

Nov
1

What I Learned when my Baby Ruined my Bedding

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For some reason the adult bed in the house is our hangout. Maybe because it’s comfy and my daughter likes to stand up and fall down. Maybe because I like to lay somewhere soft now and again. Maybe because I lay them on it before a shower or bath. That is when it happened. I like to put on my bathing suit and take both of them into the shower. In my mind, it helps prevent fear of water and gives them a little fun. I had the toddler and baby naked and ready to get into the shower.  I walk away for five seconds leaving the baby on the bed and – you guessed it – rear escape of recently digested dinner. All. Over. The. Bedspread. Okay, I got it 50% off at an end of the year sale. But it was thick, pretty, and not dry cleanable. I learned a few things after the not-so-disastrous-but-highly-annoying-event.

1) Many of the things we get annoyed at our children for are our own faults. Baby Boy had to go to the bathroom. That isn’t his fault and actually it’s a good thing. I’m glad his system is-a-workin’. The fact that he seriously stained the bedspread is my own fault because I – the adult here – left him there. We get irritated at toddlers for going through our purses, yet we leave them within their reach. We get annoyed at repetitive disruptive behaviors, but we don’t bother correcting or disciplining those behaviors. I heard it said once that most behaviors our children have are our own faults. We are in charge of the correction, discipline, praise, punishment and rewards in the house.

2) White gets a bad rap, but it is actually much more practical. People say you can’t have white upholstery or fabrics in a house with children, but you know what? You can bleach white. You know what you can’t bleach? Teal and ivory suede.

3) It is actually always better to be safe than sorry. Sure, my comforter doesn’t really matter and I can always get a new one. Or, even if I don’t, oh well. The point is that kids are unpredictable, fast and delicate. Too close to the edge of the bed and they could fall. Don’t lock the door and they can go out the front door. I’m not suggesting being paranoid (like I am) but I always tend to operate on a “better safe than sorry” mentality and don’t shortcut. As I said the other day, shortcuts never end well.

4) I have lightened up since having children. Before having children something like a ruined comforter would have made me flip out. I would have been angry passionate about the whole situation and had to take a while to calm down. After I saw the damage, because I heard the disaster from a few feet away, I just laughed. He laughed, I laughed and, well, we just took that shower we were waiting for.

Life is all about the little things that become memories that become stories. Maybe I’ll find another comforter (or doona, as they call it here in Australia) 50% off here soon. And if I do, I’ll make sure it’s white.

Related Reads:

  • What I learned when my stroller had a flat in D.C.
  • What I learned when I switched to the skirt swimsuit
  • What I learned on a 36 hour journey wit lots of kids and even more bags
  • What I learned during transition in childbirth (the near death experience)
  • What I learned in my third 3rd trimester
  • What I learned when I lost my daughter under the bed
  • What I learned in my second 3rd trimester
  • What I learned as a work from home (and stay at home) mom
  • What I learned in my third 1st trimester
  • What I learned when my 1 year old let herself out of the house
  • What I learned when hosting a progressive dinner with 20 kids
  • What I learned when my daughter woke up the entire 2nd floor of our hotel
  • What I learned getting a urine sample from an 18 month old
  • What I learned when my baby ruined my bedding
  • What I learned at the public pool
  • What I learned at a birthday party

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I'm Rachel, mother of 5 young kids living in the Florida panhandle with my Australian husband. I write about family culture, family rhythms and routines, and boundaries in motherhood and life. You can see snippets of my daily life here and visit my shop for baby sleep, organizing, and routine help.

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Comments

  1. Richard Fila says

    Classic Rach! I can totally imagine your ‘passion’ at a ruined bed spread. And once again an attitude of wisdom and maturity calls for personal humility.

    Reply
    • A Mother Far from Home says

      Thanks, Richie! Humility will take us a long way won’t it? But I reckon I’ll always be fighting my “passion”

      Reply
  2. Nana says

    Oh well…it was nice while it lasted. Maybe at Christmas we can find you another one? Or you can bring out the other comforter we bought….

    Reply
    • A Mother Far from Home says

      Yes, it was getting too thick for the summer months to come anyway :)

      Reply

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Hey y'all, I'm Rachel Norman, BA, MS, Language of Listening® parenting coach, cancer survivor, and mother to 5 babies in 5 years on 3 continents, no multiples. I love Birth Order, am passionate about parenting and motherhood, and family culture Join me in parenting without losing your mind. Read More >>

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