Mother-Daughter Outings

My life now revolves around tiny accomplishments.  Hooray- we got her in her stroller!  Hooray- she waited more than an hour to eat.  Hooray- she pooped eight times today!  Hooray- I managed to find time to shower!

This week I had the biggest tiny accomplishment so far.  I took Madeline out in public by myself!  Eric and I have taken her to the store and to the doctor's and even out to eat once, but besides a quick walk around the neighborhood, I had never been out with her myself.  On Tuesday, I took her to Barnes and Noble to pick up some parenting books I wanted.  The wonderful Ms. Call met us there for a cup of coffee as well.

Before leaving for the store, I had been petrified that something would go wrong.  I imagined not being able to get her car seat out of her stroller and back into the car.  I imagined my car breaking down by the side of the road.  I imagined Madeline screaming bloody murder the entire time we were out.  None of those things happened.  Madeline slept, well, like a baby, and I was able to enjoy a peaceful hour sipping coffee in the cafe.

This tiny accomplishment made me very happy.  I suddenly feel less trapped and more confident in my parenting abilities.  I will not turn into a mole person in our apartment after all!

I know someday Madeline will indeed throw a fit in public, but hopefully by the time that happens, I will be better equipped to handle it.  For now, just the fact that I know how to use her stroller and car seat makes me smile from ear to ear.  And I picture many mother-daughter outings in the future...perhaps to places more glamorous than Barnes and Nobles. (If that's even possible.)

Of course, Madeline cancelled out her good behavior in the store with a refusal to sleep that night.  Throughout the night, I again questioned my parenting abilities.  Maybe the caffeine from the coffee was keeping her awake?  The next morning she slept like a log with a little wicked smile on her face.  I think she wanted to let me know that she's still the one calling the shots.  

Don't get too cocky, Momma.  I still own you.