letting your kid be themselves is the best way to go

We just spent a fantastic week together having the best kind of family fun. When you're in public, in large crowds or in close contact with others, you notice things. My kid is polite and well spoken. She is learning social etiquette and general life rules. She is also a teenager...

She has the best of intentions, but sometimes she says the wrong thing or does something embarrassing in public. Don't we all, though? That's a parent's job. We lead by example. We demonstrate. We guide and make corrections. Otherwise, how will they know? 

This whole week, my kid was aware of being on her phone in lines or in public. If we were checking out, she was ready and didn't make people wait. She paid attention and took it all in. She observed and asked questions. 

And, she rushed ahead or got bored and let us ALL know 😂. She did cartwheels through the parking lot. She country line danced while she waited for her pancakes in line. She was simply herself. Unapologetically her. And I love it. 

She is polite and gracious. She lets her freak flag fly and runs to her own drummer. She isn't interested in how the other girls are doing it. She just wants to be herself. THAT is all that matters to me. And we are so proud of her for it!