Well we made it through our first full month of quarantine and hopefully you’ve had plenty of time for some self-reflection/alone time, self-care, and family time. I know I have! This past month I’ve learned a little more about myself through this whole “mom thing.” I’m sure you’ve heard the saying “having kids will change you”. Well I’ll be the first to say, honey that saying is all truth and no lies thanks to Miss Dallas. This little girl has changed me in more ways than one. And, I’ll be honest,  sometimes I hate the changes, and other times I absolutely love them!

You see kids are like fish, they absorb everything, hence my stinky booty post on social media last week, but what they don’t realize is while they are mimicking and learning everything from us, they are also teaching us a thing or two. When I was younger, I would cringe at my mom’s saying, “Baby girl I want you to be better than me,” after I gushed over how much I wanted to be like her. Now that I’m older and have my own baby girl, my mom’s saying has a totally different meaning.

While I’m the parent and the one in charge, Dallas has taken me under her wing in more ways than one. Dallas is a Sagittarius, and if you are into astrology you know they are extremely overly dramatic. Right now it’s cute, but when she’s 16 I know I won’t think it’s so cute. haha. Prime example, I sat her baby doll on the floor after she asked me to hold it as she went to the potty. When Dallas returned to find her baby on the floor, she had a meltdown like her baby had died. “Oh no baby. It’s okay. I come back,” she cried, all while she’s rocking this little ugly baby (no for real it’s ugly 😂). But I digress…in just 2.5 short years this little girl has knocked down walls I built in my life that I never thought would fall. 

1. Acting with an Open Mind

Before Dallas I would always think with an open mind, but I would never do with an open mind. There is no way I would put myself out there in front of the world for people to be able to add their opinion on what I thought. I just wasn’t going for it. I was too private for that. Now that I’ve had Dallas, I’ve realized that being private was me being reluctant to what others thought. All kids are care-free, including Dallas and I love that about her!

2. Adventurous

Fun Fact, believe it or not I’m extremely afraid of heights. (I know your first thought is me flying all the time). So, zip lining, bungy jumping, skydiving any of that count me out, it WASN’T happening! Since I’ve had Dallas, you MIGHT be able to get me to zipline. Why? because little Miss Sista Girl will jump off anything, fall hard, and look at you and say, “I Okay” and go do it again. So for my zip lining experience, I’ll more than likely be fine until I get up top and then I’ll start crying and panicking lol. But after I start talking to myself and saying “What Would Dallas Do?” I find the courage to let go and glide away!

3. Living Out Loud

Before Dallas, I was extremely private, conservative, shy, standoffish, intimidating, or boujee…you name it and I’ve heard it. Now, I’m less worried about what others may or may not think, and I’m more worried about if my story could help someone. My little girl is such an inspiration to me at just 2 years old, and  I can only imagine what she’ll be like when it’s time for her to go to school (not that I’m rushing it). With her it’s easier for me stay chill — not get mad at the little things and enjoy the moments of life that I have. I’m blessed to have an amazing daughter to help me grow into not only a mom and a daughter, but also a better woman!

If you have a little one, or little ones that you are close to you, take some time and ask yourself how they are helping you grow as a person. I promise you will be blown away by the many ways you or others come up with.