The best dollar ever spent

Hallie and I needed to get out of the house last week, so we went to one of my favorite places..the dollar tree. I always expect to spend around $20 in there. The things you can find in there are endless. But this trip I ended up with one of my better finds. We were scrolling through books that Hallie might like when a title of one caught my eye. "How to have your second child first". Whaaat? I was so intrigued I put it in the cart. I figured it was a dollar and since I had no time to find out what it was about while in the store with a busy 8 month old, I'd read it at home. Once Hallie was down for a nap I picked it up and skimmed through a few pages. Next I know I was 100 pages in. Now let me tell you, this was the best dollar I've ever spent. Seriously, every person who is expecting their first should read this book. It is a bunch of tips gathered from experienced parents who look back on how they did things with their first that were wasted time or money. It covers everything from what to not waste money on buying because you will never use it to how to spend the first few weeks after bringing home baby. (one couple said the dad had a few weeks off for paternity leave and they were so bummed with their first when they just sat around while their newborn slept. With their second, they used his paternity leave to take the family to Hawaii, they were able to play on the beach while the newborn slept in a play pen next to them..how awesome is that?) But most of all, this book has given me the clarity and reassurance that I have been so desperately needing.
I'm convinced that being a mom is the hardest job there is. It may not be the most physically demanding occupation but it is very tough emotionally. You are always seen as a mom, and people watch you. They watch how you racy with a screaming baby, they watch what you will do when a pacifier falls on the ground, they watch how you play, what you feed them, how you hold them. Everything you do is watched and judged, because for some reason every person feels like they have a job to see that the baby is being cared for properly. Now here's my dilemma..I have found out having hallie that I am not the typical first time mom. Ive never been a germ freak, and I am extremely low maintenance on everything. But I had doubts about my style of parenting. What if I am not playing with Hallie enough, what if she doesn't have enough toys, what if I don't clean off her pacifier right away, and lots of other things. It was hard to not compare myself to other moms. But when I did, I felt like I was a failure.
Then comes this book. It has helped me in so many ways know that I am not a failure. I'm doing nothing wrong. I am providing and loving and teaching my daughter in my own style. I may be laid back, but I am not ignorant. My baby is cared for in every way she needs to be. I may let her chew on things that she probably shouldn't (see picture) because they're dirty, but if it's the only thing that is keeping her happy, I'd rather have a little germ in her system than to have both of us stressing because she's unhappy. I may not constantly play with her all day long, but I've come to find joy in watching her play independently, and being able to entertain herself has been a blessing a handful of times. She may not have all the latest baby toys, but she likes my kitchen stuff better, and it saves us money. Back to the point, this book has helped me to feel better about the way I parent. These parents have given advice about things they wish they would have done, and I have done them since day 1!
So..I highly recommend this book! For those who feel like they have the same laid back parenting style as me and need some reassurance, or those who are going to be expecting baby number 1 ( or 2 or 3 or...) and want to get a little insight on some great tips to spend less, worry less, and have more time. This book is great!!