When it comes to parenting, the first child often feels as if they’re wrapped in bubble wrap—figuratively, of course. If we were to use actual bubble wrap, it would likely become a plaything rather than a safety precaution. But let’s be honest, popping bubble wrap is one of life’s simple pleasures.
Now, back to the firstborn—the child we often fret over the most. I can’t say that my love for my youngest is any less, but I clearly remember diving to rescue my firstborn from ingesting a dangerous piece of paper towel as if I were a Secret Service agent shielding the president. I would pry their tiny mouth open, risking injury to my fingers to save them from a piece of dog food that I perceived to be as dangerous as a cyanide pill.
Fast forward to my youngest, who was innocently gnawing on a paper towel, and my reaction was quite different. I shrugged it off with a thought of, “I’ll get to it eventually.” The threat level felt more like a mild caution rather than an emergency. As I moved sluggishly from washing dishes to my child, I pondered if it was even worth it to risk a personal injury to retrieve that paper towel. “Let him chew on it,” I thought, “These dishes aren’t going to wash themselves.”
What’s even more shocking than my delayed response to the paper towel situation is the fact that I admitted to doing the dishes. I hate acknowledging adult responsibilities. I once boasted to my partner that I was the “cool” parent, too busy for chores, while they held everything together. That didn’t go over well.
Here I was, the “hip” dad doing the dishes while my son munched on the finest paper towel. It’s not that I don’t care about my youngest’s safety; it’s just that I’m less anxious about him eating a little dog food or a paper towel. After two years of parenthood, I’ve come to realize that kids will munch on dirt, grass, and random objects as they please. There was a time when I was convinced my son was part mole-rat, as he would devour dirt like it was a gourmet meal. Changing his diaper often felt like uncovering beachfront property instead of just a simple mess.
Children eventually grow out of their obsession with tasting everything. It’s inevitable that a baby will chew on household items; as long as you keep the harmful substances out of reach, they’re typically safe. But there are moments that lead to panic.
Once, my kids decided that a little “syrup” was in order—not the breakfast kind, but they had discovered the baby Benadryl in their diaper bag. After some trial and error with the safety cap, they passed the sweet liquid amongst themselves before we could intervene. It was a terrifying moment, one that knocked me off my parenting pedestal, but the baby bag has since been relocated to a safer place. Lesson learned.
As parents, we evolve along with our children—not just in size, as we all gain a bit of “parent weight,” but also in mindset and emotional maturity. We learn to identify real threats versus non-issues like a piece of paper towel. I’m not advocating for a diet consisting solely of paper products; after all, nobody can afford that. There are far more pressing concerns, like whether the baby bag makes my rear look good or not.
Of course, I know someone will jump at the chance to point out that eating paper towels is bad while they’re shoving hot dogs in their kids’ mouths. And that’s perfectly fine—hot dogs are a classic quick-fix meal (and if you’re out of bread, you can always wrap it in paper towel).
As parents, it’s sometimes necessary to allow our children to learn through experience. Trust me, the kid who eats sticks won’t be picky come dinnertime. So, after years of navigating through inexperience, I say, “Let them eat paper towels.”
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Summary:
In the journey of parenthood, the approach to raising children evolves significantly from the firstborn to subsequent siblings. Initially, parents are overly cautious, often overreacting to minor hazards, such as a child chewing on a paper towel. However, as experience builds, parents learn to find a balance between safety and allowing children the freedom to explore their environment, understanding that some trial and error is part of the learning process. The narrative humorously reflects on the contrast between parenting styles and the inevitable messiness of raising kids.