I have become obsessive about various things at different stages! Sleep for sure. Food consumption with my first. Also potty training. When I took in my teenage nephew the obsessions with all new and this very foreign stage was a bit overwhelming for me, like learning how exactly to strategically talk to him because did you know teenagers are odd creatures?! I’m kidding! And serious :)
I think you'd really enjoy reading The Parenting Revolution by Dr Justin Coulson (if you can get it in the UK). It is so practical in helping parents understand our kid's needs for autonomy, connection, and competence, and how to meet those needs.
PS Congrats on writing for 3 months! I'll definitely pledge my support at some point 😊
Very relatable piece, I enjoyed reading, thank you. I have absolutely had a few obsessions over the years but I think the most difficult of them all was food. I am a nutritionist and getting balanced quality food mostly organic was something I strived for especially when my oldest was little. It took me having a complete meltdown on the kitchen floor because I felt I had let her down when I was tired one night - making her a pizza “on a preservative free corn tortilla, with organic pizza sauce, free range nitrate free bacon and preservative free olives” but I hadn’t made the pizza base or the sauce so I was beating myself up. And I then realised I had a really big problem and forced myself to let go a little bit. It still took another 2 years to get to a place where I only cared about what she ate at home (but not so pedantically), and if she was at a party or a friends etc then she could eat anything she liked. Now she is 10 and is quite fussy with a lot of things but great with other foods that lots of kids won’t eat. I have come along way since those early days, especially as I now have an autistic son as well and he only eats 4 different dinners on rotation. The universe has definitely kicked me into mellowing out!
I have become obsessive about various things at different stages! Sleep for sure. Food consumption with my first. Also potty training. When I took in my teenage nephew the obsessions with all new and this very foreign stage was a bit overwhelming for me, like learning how exactly to strategically talk to him because did you know teenagers are odd creatures?! I’m kidding! And serious :)
Your piece was very relatable!
I think you'd really enjoy reading The Parenting Revolution by Dr Justin Coulson (if you can get it in the UK). It is so practical in helping parents understand our kid's needs for autonomy, connection, and competence, and how to meet those needs.
PS Congrats on writing for 3 months! I'll definitely pledge my support at some point 😊
I always enjoy reading your work, Brad, and boy does this hit close to home!
Very relatable piece, I enjoyed reading, thank you. I have absolutely had a few obsessions over the years but I think the most difficult of them all was food. I am a nutritionist and getting balanced quality food mostly organic was something I strived for especially when my oldest was little. It took me having a complete meltdown on the kitchen floor because I felt I had let her down when I was tired one night - making her a pizza “on a preservative free corn tortilla, with organic pizza sauce, free range nitrate free bacon and preservative free olives” but I hadn’t made the pizza base or the sauce so I was beating myself up. And I then realised I had a really big problem and forced myself to let go a little bit. It still took another 2 years to get to a place where I only cared about what she ate at home (but not so pedantically), and if she was at a party or a friends etc then she could eat anything she liked. Now she is 10 and is quite fussy with a lot of things but great with other foods that lots of kids won’t eat. I have come along way since those early days, especially as I now have an autistic son as well and he only eats 4 different dinners on rotation. The universe has definitely kicked me into mellowing out!