I didn’t realize how much I took for granted before I had a child.

Here’s a short list:

Not having to prepare dinner if I didn’t want to.

Hangovers (or the ability to consume alcohol without TRUE regard to whatever I may have had planned the following day)

Sleeping In.

Using the bathroom by myself. I had pee-pee peace.

That last one is the crux of this post. I will not go into bathroom details because this is the internet after all and I’d rather not go into too much bathroom detail. BUT what I can give you is a glimpse into my life and how I reminisce on the way things used to be.

When I get home from work, the bathroom is usually my first stop. I unload my work bag, my coat and mail, retrieve my cell phone and mosey to my bathroom. During the time I’m doing my business, it gives me a moment to regroup and fully transition to ‘at home’ mode. It used to be a moment of peaceable me time. I didn’t have to share that time or energy with anyone but myself, my toilet, my phone, and my higher power.

However, that is no longer the case. I used to laugh at the memes of parents taking pictures of the door and the little toddler fingers underneath the door. I can say from experience it’s not funny when it happens to you. It’s an invasion of privacy you didn’t realize you’d be offended by until it happened to you. The first time it happened, I was so incensed that I sat in the bathroom just a little longer just to “take back” that time that was stolen from me.

I totally understand that this, apparently, comes with the territory when a person enters the #ToddlerParent Phase. Also, I’d like to point out that I’ma need a document of all these parenting milestones we supposed to be hitting, so I can tell you which ones I’d prefer to miss. The Bathroom Invasion phase DEFINITELY takes the cake.

But as much complaining as I have done, I must remember moments like the above photo where she and I can just sit, chill and lovingly share each other’s space. It’s a mutual exchange of comfort, love, affection and quality time I will look back on and realize how much I love The Kid. (and secretly find her bathroom “Wina” pleas to be adorable) because that’s my Kid. My Shadow. My Love Bug. And I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Parents:

Have you experienced this ‘rite of passage’ with your child(ren)? If you missed this one, what’s a ‘rite of parenting passage’ you wish someone had informed you about?

Non-Parents:

What’s the most intrusive thing that’s happened to you at the hands of a child? How did you respond?

(P.S. Here’s the link for Legacy: A Black History Brush Lettering Worksheet. You can also find it under the shop. You can pay a fair price for the worksheet. You know, Cooperative Economics)

(P.S.S. You can practice on the Legacy Sheet with the Tombow Dual Tip Brush Pen)

Dassit,

Lina