i'm so flattered and so touched that you love our family so much. i used to be creeped out by the fact that you watch us from your window all the time, but now i realize that you just really like our kid and you like being "in the know."
but when i ran into you the other day out front (like i often do), you did a lot of talking at me and left me no time to return the conversation. i mean, you were giving me, in your own words, "free advice on how to parent." and i totally appreciate the fact that you're a 91 year old retired nurse who looks like she's 65, but let me tell you how i see things.
you say, "you shouldn't let her out of the stroller to walk on the sidewalk."
i say, "it gives her a chance to explore from a different eye level. yes, she comes in contact with way more germs this way, but it's nothing a solid bath cannot fix. she is her true self when she's out exploring on her own and i love seeing her in that element. and when people stop to give her a blow pop, no, of course i don't let her know it's something to eat. she just thinks it's something to wave around! so yes, i'll continue to let her have her little adventures."
you say, "the pope is not worth waiting for. he's jamming up our city and there are a lot of things for him to be ashamed about regarding the catholic church."
i say, "for us, this might be a once in a lifetime experience. and although we don't share the same faith, we are still christians and as long as he's preaching good morals and christlike characteristics, then i say that's better than nothing. plus, sitting on the stoop with my kid, waiting for 2 hours, was so worth it. she got nice and dirty and i got lots of good pictures. #win."
you say, "heavens, she's cute wearing a backpack!"
i say, "thank you, i agree." :)
you say, "she's getting too big and heavy for your back, you shouldn't be carrying her around."
i say, "well this is a probably a good time to tell you that you're absolutely right, considering she's got a baby brother on the way. it does kill my back, but have you seen this city?! sometimes i don't have a choice. so i just fist pump and chant 'pioneer woman', and go on my way."
i say, "sometimes it's cold outside and i want something to warm my soul, so i can only imagine she does, too. plus the look of sheer delight on her face and her determination to get every last drop makes it ALL worth the sugar high later."
you say, "you shouldn't let her watch so much TV.."
i say, "you look in our windows all the time. so you should know that that's not the case, she doesn't watch so much TV. yes she did watch 4 hours of TV earlier this month, but that was only to hear our church leaders speak at our bi-annual worldwide conference. so do i mind that she's sitting at the feet (not literally) of our church leaders soaking up all their words and offering them her drink?.... not in the slightest!"
you say, "you belong in new york. remie is a new yorker and you belong home with your husband. once you leave home, you're not supposed to return. let them come to you!"
i say, "we'll never agree on this one, so just leave it alone. it's SUPER important to me that this girl has a relationship with her family all over, so we'll continue to go to them. when she visits them she gets to do things she doesn't at home: drink grandpa's root beer, ride cousins bikes, drink grandma's wonton soup, use her aunt as a lounge chair, and a bunch of other things that just don't happen at home. so yes, our next trip has been booked and i don't want to hear anything about it! thanks."
you say, "the bus is not for babies."
i say, "then who is it for?! because she loves it. and regardless of the ancient apple cores and the slumped over chinese man (don't worry, he's napping), we're still going to ride it. it's cheap."
that's all i'm going to say for now, because you really are a good person with good intentions. but i parent differently and sometimes i wish you'd let me say a word or two to defend myself!
also, remie is not an unhappy baby. she just doesn't smile and coo at you when you tap your cane on the bottom of her foot. you're kind of big and scary and you talk loud, i would not be myself if you did that to me either!
anyway, can't wait to hear what you have to say next week. i'll be anxiously waiting on my stoop.
xo
