Why I Want My Kids to Be Merry Makers and You Probably Do Too

Going into parenthood, everyone has an idea of what kind of parent you think you will be. Most parents think they will be amazing and can’t imagine there will be hard days because their kids will be perfect. As babies, they won’t cry, will sleep well and you will never have a toddler that throws a tantrum in Target. Those kids must have mothers who aren’t doing it right. You believe your kids will turn out to be fun, social, well-rounded, smart, motivated, and confident and will never tire of your parenting presence. They will become good people. It will all come full circle, and you can then retire on the beach and visit your grandchildren often and all will be right with the world. 

Then…when you hit day 1, you realize none of that is probably going to happen. You hope to get through the day with a shower and pray that tomorrow you will get it together and your plan will miraculously pan out.

Until…you wake up 12 years in, with a new plan and lowered expectations of what is socially acceptable, especially when it comes to whether or not your child really NEEDS to shower that day. You wing it. You try to do your best, while feeling like you are probably not doing anything right at all. You wonder if what you’re doing will mess them up for their entire lives. You try to teach them to be nice, polite and behave well. Then a mom calls and tells you that on the school bus your kid taught her kid a bad word.

And so you begin again. 

Along the way you learn about anxiety, ADHD, learning styles, and your children’s lack of desire to sit on any sort of carpet or in any type of circle… criss-cross apple sauce style. You help them explore their passions, watch their sports, and drive them all over the world for them to be happy. All the while you try to grin and learn, hug and love. Not really knowing what the heck you are doing.

But you are trying. And you still want them to be good people, not perfect but good. 

Keeping up the perfect parenting is hard and exhausting, so I created Chipper to help the busy parent spread joy around the holidays.  But, I’m starting to rethink the whole brand, and have decided that maybe Chipper needs to be with us year round.

Practicing and modeling simple acts of gracious giving, merry making, is something we can do together with our families, friends and neighbors. Creative, simple wonder can become a 365 day commitment. 

So come with me on this journey (clearly I have watched The Bachelor a time or two) and help your kids be merry makers, right along with mine. Look for my tips and helpful ideas. Then, maybe one day, we can all meet at the sunny beach to relax and have a toast (with an umbrella embellished cocktail, of course) to the good people we created.