January 4, 2007 | Wanting to be a real princess | Rolleicord

I still feel so new to parenting ... each day offers its own challenges, which may or may not impact the person she will become as an adult. I never read a single baby book or parenting guide. That would have stressed me out to no end. Instead I went with my instincts. I'm sure I have messed up on many occasions ... in fact, I know I have, but there are two things that I consciously instilled in her. One, was to read books, which we have done every night since we arrived home from China. It gives us at least half an hour of quiet time together, every night, where I focus entirely on her. As she is growing older, it has become not only a time to read, but a time to talk about her day and what's on her mind .. and that half hour is now extending to an hour of bedtime togetherness. I will always look back and treasure those memories.

The second conscious choice I made was to be tactile with her. Growing up in a british home, hugs and kisses were not common place. With L, I don't think a day has gone by where we haven't exchanged hugs and "I love you", every morning and night. She has now turned daycare into one giant hugfest, and has all the kids hugging one another at the end of the day.

Ok, that's my two cents on parenting.

Five good things:
1. The drain now drains
2. The garage door now opens
3. The lights give off light
4. My child is asleep
5. Life is good

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