What if you had 28 years.. My Barefoot Parenting
Chances are high when you hear barefoot parenting your first thoughts are... a bunch of hippies breastfeeding their babies with their shoes off... am I right?
I feel like this a new term that needs some positive light shed on it.
I’m Lindsey and my parenting style is “barefoot” -
I’m a Mom of 2.
My Son is 6and my Daughter is 3!
When you’re a Mom of 1 people often say “oh you’re a new mom!"
Well, when I was having my second child I was like - NOW PEOPLE CAN'T SAY THIS TO ME!
Honestly, I had my daughter and I was more clueless than when I had my first.
2 kids was a whole new ballpark!
I never had a particular parenting style in my head... I was winging it and it was shaping up to be chaos.
Then I had a life-altering experience.
My cousin passed away at the age of 28.
28 years young.
That’s when I said.. what if my kids only have 28 years.
I almost can't breathe while I type this out.
I would want those 28 years to be magical.
M.A.G.I.CA.L.
So that’s when I started changing the way I parent.
Sometimes I think people give “barefoot parenting” a bad rap.
It’s not raising children to be disrespectful in any way.
I’m very strict when it comes to that.
I want my children to live a life of purpose.
To be successful because they were never afraid to fail.
I want them to know they bring value to this world so when someone tells them differently, they won’t believe it because they know themselves.
I want them to question the world but accept change.
That’s the only way we will grow.
I want my kids to be organic and own who they are.
I want to listen to them and understand their little minds.
When my partner and I need advice I want to be able to go to my children to get a different perspective.
Does that sound crazy to you?
I just want them to feel like their opinion matters.
I want to get on their level and see the world from their eyes.
I just don’t want people to get it twisted with “these parents don’t care”
I care a whole heck of a lot I just go about it differently than you.
I won't judge you for your parenting style, please just take a look inside of mine.
One memory that has forever stuck with me..
When I was a teenager in high school one morning my Mom came into my room and said “why aren’t you getting ready for school?”
I said “I just don’t have it in me today.”
She looked at me and said “Take a vacation day.”
That has stuck with me MY ENTIRE LIFE.
She understood I needed a moment. I needed to be alone with myself.
I need a day. Hell, I might have needed two..
She gave that to me.
She could have said GET READY! GO TO SCHOOL!
But she understood me.
One day wasn’t going to ruin my academic career!
But that one day did a hell of a lot to for my mental health.
Kids need mental health days too.
The biggest thing I have taken away from my childhood is be proud.
Every single day my Mom would say "make me proud" Every day I would strive to do so.
Own who you are and be proud of the person you are.
Live life by the golden rule. "do unto others as you would have them do unto you."
I’m a huge believer that it all starts in your home!
Talk to your children like they understand, because they do- or they will.
My barefoot parenting is what keeps me sane.
I want my child’s opinion. I want them to know their voice matters while understanding their father and I are here to make the best decision for them.
Crazy as this sounds but I want them to be barefoot and accidentally stub their toe so they feel why they have to wear shoes.
I can say it until I'm blue in the face.. How many time have you said "I needed to experience it before I really understood.." Goes for all aspects in life.
I want my kids to jump into the mud puddle and feel it squish through their toes.
Smell like a puppy dog because they were drenched in vitamin D all day.
Fall asleep at the dinner table because you had such an eventful day!
I want them to be productive members of society and I hope what I’m doing works.
There’s no playbook when every home and heart is different.
Remember you don’t see the world as it is, you see it as you are.
Think how you want to live.
If my child only had 28 years...
I hope I was able to shed some light on our Barefoot parenting.
What's your parenting style?
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