When I browse the aisles of the
grocery store, my intent is so pure for feeding my almost two-year-old son the
most fresh, organic, and healthy foods I can stock up on. I literally feel like Supermom as I toss some
grass-fed, hormone-free organic chicken in my grocery cart alongside a plethora
of peas, carrots, and broccoli. For
snack, I think to myself, Gavin will have fresh apple slices and bananas. Nothing frozen. Nothing processed. Nothing store-bought. Only the best for my little boy because I am a
modern-day Mom that knows better than to feed my child junk.
Fast-forward to 5:30pm. I get stuck in New Haven traffic on my way
home from work. I pull into daycare as I
fumble for the third copy of the door code they gave me (I got seriously side-eyed
because I lost it twice) to get into
the building. Paint-covered Gavin is
ecstatic to see Mommy and I quickly check his folder to take home any precious
artwork he did for the day. As I buckle
him up in his car seat, I get a text from my husband that he is working late
and needs me to pick up dog food because we ran out. Gavin is excited about this trip as he pets
(harasses) the furry creatures in the aisles of Petco as I try to keep him from
taking every last item off the shelf.
Its 6:15 now and I know Gavin must be starving. I think to myself, I can cook that
hormone-free chicken. After working 9
hours and commuting two, the not-so-Supermom finds herself at the drive-through
at good ol’ Mickey D’s. “I’ll take a
kid’s happy meal with apple slices.” Hey, at least he will get the apple slices I
think to myself and feel slightly less guilty.
Organic quinoa tomorrow.
I am constantly in the pursuit of
putting my son’s health and well-being first and sometimes find myself taking
shortcuts that leave me ashamed as if I’d ruined all the months of healthy
eating with one happy meal. Kind of like
that feeling when you ate healthy all day and then just stuff a cupcake down
after the gym. Ohhh, the guilt. But then I take a step back and
know that life gets in the way of your “perfect plan” and sometimes, you just
gotta have a Happy Meal (or that cupcake).
The truth is, it’s okay to use
McDonald’s french fries as your rescue when you can’t be Supermom every
day. It’s okay to use your iPhone as a
way to distract your child on an airplane or in a restaurant every once in a
while. It’s okay to let them watch more
TV than Dr. Sears recommends for childhood development. It’s okay, gasp, for your 2 year old to eat goldfish off the floor. It’s okay.
They will be okay. It’s okay to be a part-time Supermom.
Ever After,
Jamie