I have taken care of other people's children more times than I can count. I hated caring for the kid's with the uptight parents who (I thought) had no faith in my childcare skills. Here we go, I would think to myself, as a mom would go over all the do's and don'ts for the period I'd be spending with her little one. I would stress the whole time that I may leave something out of order or the munchkin would fall and hurt himself on my watch. Well since becoming a mom I have now been given a whole new perspective on this type of relationship. I left Mia with strangers twice this weekend and you must imagine my surprise when my husband told me I was acting like the uptight parent.
Friday night we wanted to go to dinner with some friends and actually eat our meal instead of play pick up Mia's toys from from under the table the entire time. Earlier that day one of the mom's in a playgroup told me about the drop in/mom's day out childcare facility she owns and I decided to give it a shot that night. I walked in the facility and was greeted by the sweet lady whom answered my million questions over the phone previously. She gave me the opportunity to walk around and check the place out. Although it was bright and cheery all I could think about was that it smelled like diapers and the toys and cribs were used and abused (all I saw was germs). I reminded myself that it was only an hour and we were eating right next door. But, the uptight mommy in me still came out as I told the lady to lay down the blanket I brought before laying Mia down in the crib, that she likes to be held until falling asleep so laying her down would probably upset her, exactly how long to heat her bottle up, that I preferred her playing with the toys I packed in the bag since everything goes in her mouth (although the rules stated no personal toys), and more than once reminded the caretaker that we would be right nextdoor should anything come up. Mia ended up being held the whole time, never fussed and seemed happy when we got her not over an hour later. I don't know why I was amazed but I was!
This experience gave me such courage that Sunday instead of holding Mia during the church sermon I decided to take her to the nursery. This we have tried a couple times and she usually cried until they came and got us. So, feeling frisky (as Justin said) I brought her back to the childrens center to register her and once again had got my uptight mom on. When I told the lady Mia's age she sent us to a room with babies all in car seats or cribs and I immediatly turned around and told the lady that although Mia is 7 months she is too big to sit in a car seat or crib for over an hour (she'd die of boredome) and she belongs in the room with the jumper-roo and exersaucers! So, ever so kindley the lady allowed us to bring her to the other room. Once there I found myself instructing the women on how she likes to play best "Oh good you have high chairs...she can sit in one and play with the toys I brought in her diaper bag". I didn't see any dirty looks -had it not been church I'm sure I would have recieved a couple. But, Mia was great. I found myself waiting for the cue to go get her before the service ended and was again amazed she was just fine the whole time
At one point after leaving Mia I caught Justin smirking and I asked him if I was being uptight and he told me that I can get a little "snippy". Oh no! I never meant to be like that. I had become one of those mom's, times ten! After he said that I sat there thinking that I am a control freak when it comes to Mia. I guess my being with her 24/7 has given me this my way or the highway mentality. Oops! I told Justin that from now on I would communicate through him since he does not come across as "snippy" and it will allow him to filter my excessiveness.
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