One afternoon, I strolled into the bathroom and was greeted by a closed toilet lid—an action my youngest had taken to “protect the cats from falling in and drowning.” I lifted the lid, only to jump back in surprise, convinced I was about to encounter a spider. It turned out to be a large, vibrant green sticker from Killington Mountain. Honestly, it made my toilet look like a scene from a college dorm or a trendy mall restroom.
My oldest daughter peeked in, beaming with pride. “Do you love it?” she asked.
I’ve always aimed to give my girls what I like to call a “’70s-light” childhood. They scribble with chalk on the garage floor and hang colorful ribbons from the staircase. In our backyard, they’ve built a fort that’s a playground for their imaginations—complete with treasures that might otherwise be considered trash, adorning windowsills and dangling from the ceiling. We embrace creativity, repurposing leftover ribbons from gifts and the quirky molds that come with Amazon packages.
Of course, we try to maintain some semblance of order, which means my husband and I have designated areas in our home that we strive to keep free from the delightful chaos that our daughters bring. We have bins for shoes and spots for backpacks and homework. Chores like matching socks and washing dishes happen occasionally. Like many families, we’re a work in progress.
While this style of parenting may not suit everyone, it works wonderfully for us. We might be a bit messier, and we may bend rules that others might find essential, but this way of life allows my girls the freedom to explore and unleash their creativity. It also gives my husband and me a chance to relax and not stress about enforcing rules that none of us really want to follow anyway. After over a decade of parenting, we’ve learned that sometimes, it’s best to just roll with the punches.
Here are a few things we choose not to sweat, which might raise eyebrows for other parents:
- Glitter
This one took some time. My husband was initially against it, but glitter is like magic dust for crafting and solves any sister squabbles. “Want to do a project with glitter?” is always met with squeals of excitement. - Unmade Beds
Life’s too fleeting to spend three minutes daily on bed-making. Plus, a bed that’s been unmade for days looks much more impressive once it’s finally made! - Towels on the Floor
Only one of our three daughters is guilty of this, so when I find stray towels, I take it as a sign to give our dog and cats a bath. - Writing on Mirrors
Since no one else ventures into our upstairs bathroom, I don’t mind if it resembles a backseat window after a road trip with a dog. I look forward to seeing “I love you” messages left on the mirror after every shower. - LEGO Clutter
If there are LEGO creations scattered across every corner of our stairs, it means my kids are deep in play and inventiveness. The strategic placement means they’re at least trying to avoid a “Home Alone” moment!
As for that giant sticker I mistook for a spider? I’m excited for the day I can share the story of how our toilet became a canvas for “The Beast.” Yep, we left it there.
For more parenting insights, check out our other blog posts, such as how to navigate home insemination with resources from Women’s Health. If you’re interested in more on this topic, visit Make a Mom for expert advice. And if you’re looking to explore more about home insemination options, you can also read about it here.