Whoever said ideals weren't meant to be broken?

I always think about how much different a parent I am then I ever thought I would be.  I am sure, at one time or another, everyone looks back and thought they would do something differently as a parent.  For me, it's not so much the big things that I do different.  I wore my baby for the first few months, I still try to do as much attachment parenting as possible, I seperated my son's vaccines, and for the most part feed organic.  It's those little things though that you just sometimes have to give up. 

Like your fear of germs and how we put this on our children, taking away his pacifier at 3 months, weaning off bottles at a year, no tv till 3.  These were ideals, that honestly, I decided were just losing battles.  Boys will be boys, I can't seclude him from the world.  My son loves his pacifier way too much.  When we tried snipping the tip so that maybe he wouldn't want it anymore...he cried and started hitting himself with it, too much for me to handle.  My little boy loves his comfort items, his bottle being one of them.  And for the tv, well, we are still pretty good about this...but the smile on his face when he sees Sid the Science Kid makes me forget this simple rule.

Parenting isn't about being the most perfect parent.  It's about love, compassion, teaching, and changing with your child.  I could never have imagined the little things about being a mom.  I learn with time what is and is not the most important part.  I just want to have my son grow up knowing that my husband and I are there for him, he has someone to come back to.  I want him to grow to trust and love.  In the end, it won't matter if he has his pacifier for a little longer, or if sometimes his mommy needs a break and she gives in with the tv. 

We all have ideals, but that's just what they are.  It doesn't make us anymore or less of a parent.
Now, off I go to music class with my one year old...why, because he loves it, not because I think it will make him any smarter.  (He's already too smart!)