When I look back over the last three years of my daughter’s life, I can’t help but smile when I think about all of the ways she’s changed my perspective on life. I’ve always been easy going but with Miss O I’ve found that I have more patience and tolerance than I previously thought possible. As a parent you recognize that it’s not all about you anymore, your kids become the focus and you adapt to how they see the world. We adapt to their idiosyncrasies and although these quirks can be trying at times, this is how our children learn and develop. My hope for Miss O is that she grows up to be smart, independent and confident. In order to help with this, I find that I let her take the lead once in a while. And by lead I mean I give her two or three options and allow her to choose. Sometimes things work out and other times I shake my head and ask myself what was I thinking…for instance, now I have to clean paint off of the floor! Who can relate?