I made it through the first few nights, the teething, the "terrible twos" and "f**king four", My daughters are 8 and 11 years old. Tweens! They're healthy, eat pretty well, and sleep through the night. They have all their teeth; potty training and nightmares are a thing of the past. Do you think I'm lucky?
Well, I think you’re lucky with your little ones! There are days when I’d gladly have mine back at that age. An age when it was so easy to distract them and wipe away their crocodile tears. An age when they didn’t have an answer for everything and when sass was an abstract concept. An age when, by 8 p.m., they were fast asleep, unable to turn the light back on by themselves to read until midnight. And an age when they took long naps in the afternoon. Well, yeah—when you’re in the thick of it, you totally underestimate naps!
Of course, just like you, I was overwhelmed. And tired. Between laundry, housework, and the kids, I dreamed of the day when my daughters would be more independent. What I didn’t know was that this independence would also come with its own share of work!
My daughters love baking cakes, slim, DIY projects I found on YouTube, beauty masks (especially mine!), etc. The result: it looks like a hurricane has swept through my kitchen; my table linens and napkins get stained the moment they come out of the drawers. I can never find my scissors, glue, or food coloring. And what about their energy! They dash from the backyard to the garage entrance—without closing the doors or taking off their shoes—at lightning speed, leaving their marks on the hardwood floor and the white sofa along the way (note that the white sofa is overrated: go for the gray one!).
My 11-year-old changes clothes several times a day, and I find an endless supply of clothes for every season in the laundry basket, at the back of her closet, under the bed, and under her pillow. I’m on a laundry strike; but never mind—she just puts together one of my tops with the leggings from her sister and a belt! She's a creative kid (yes, I really encouraged creativity and independence during her early childhood).
I mentor young, engaged female students; they have several projects: a science fair, fundraising for the less fortunate, a school toy library, a lemonade stand, a neighborhood party, the “Great Day for Young Entrepreneurs,” and more. It’s great! Keep in mind, however, that this involves long hours: elevators On both the left and the right, a good amount of volunteer work.
When I limit screen time, I’m officially the lamest mom in town. People keep telling me this, using every intonation the French language has to offer—sometimes at an unbelievable decibel level.
In the evening, they no longer call me into their room to ask about a monster or for one last kiss; on the contrary, they’d rather I didn’t see the light on or the mess in their room. Sometimes, I’m greeted by a poster homemade "Banned Parents."
When I see a crying baby, you’ll notice the tender, nostalgic look on my face. Even more so when a baby is sleeping in its stroller.
P.S.: Don’t worry—I love my daughters, and we spend quality time together. I cherish our conversations. I love watching them blossom and become independent. I see them growing into exceptional young women, and I want to tell you that in public, they’re exemplary. I’m doing my best to navigate these pivotal years. Live and learn!