“Life is short.”
“Make every moment count.”
“They grow up way too fast.”
We’ve all heard those motivational-poster-worthy phrases said a million times over. But when it actually comes right down to it, we’re kind of awful at putting them into practice. Somehow, James Dean’s “Live as if you’ll die today” looks a whole lot better plastered on a Facebook cover photo than it does implemented in the nitty-gritty details of everyday life—especially when it comes to parenthood.
With kids making incessant requests for everything from macaroni & cheese and sleepovers to the latest iPhone and rainbow-streaked hair, it can be pretty challenging to cherish the little moments in life while simultaneously attempting to not raise little brats who get everything that they want. All too often, just saying “no” seems like the sensible solution.
And besides, WHO wants to get mom-shamed for having the only kid walking around looking like Lisa Frank vomited something reminiscent of a unicorn on their head??
Rachel Ann Carpenter is one mother who knows that struggle all too well.
Last year, when her daughter asked for pink hair, she was NOT about to succumb to the whims of a middle-school phase that would certainly pass—thus sparing Rachel the hair-appointment hassle along with the humiliation.
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But admittedly, Rachel learned the hard way that life is “way too short to say NO all of the time.”