#2 "Magic Words from a Mom Who's Just a Little Bit Ahead"

Thank you for visiting "Magic Words from a Mom Who's Just a Little Bit Ahead"!
I'm Yuko Otomo, a childcare worker currently in the thick of raising two boys.

Last time, I wrote a quick introduction about myself.
This second post is the main event!

"Why just a little bit ahead?"
"What are these magic words?"

I imagine there might be question marks floating over all of your heads right now!

As I wrote last time, I have children who are 8 and 6 years old.
I'm still right in the middle of raising them ^^
However, my second son will be graduating from nursery school this March!
The nursery school I thought I'd be going to forever (a bit of an exaggeration) will be over in March.

• Children who were left in care from the time they were babies
• My second son, who had an intense "terrible twos" phase
• Picky eating, consistently with green things
• My eldest son, who still had a hard time letting go when I dropped him off in the morning even as a senior preschooler

Working full-time and picking them up from nursery school just before the overtime fees kicked in.
Loading both of them onto my bike to head home.
No time to rest: dinner -> bath -> bedtime.

The me from back then... I really did a good job!

In the midst of those stormy days, I had so many worries about raising my children.

"How can I get them to stop being picky eaters?"
"They hate brushing their teeth every time, what should I do?"
"Should I try to make mom friends?"

What I can say to that version of me from the current me is this:

"It's okay just as you are."

I feel like most things could have been solved with those words.

Picky eating... it's okay! They still have their likes and dislikes even now, haha. But the things they dislike or can eat are different from back then ^^;

Toothbrushing... you don't have to be that nervous about it! If they drink plenty of tea after eating, most of the food particles get washed away.

Mom friends... you don't have to desperately try to make them! Once you start attending nursery school or kindergarten, you'll naturally end up with more acquaintances you can greet when you see them on the street.

I want to tell the me from back then so many of these "it's okay" stories!

If I had known, could I have relaxed my shoulders a bit more while raising them?
That's the kind of days I was thinking about.

To the moms and dads who are currently raising children and holding onto those same worries, just as I was. And to those who are about to become parents.

As a mom who is just a little bit ahead of you in parenting, I'd like to give you lots of
"It's okay" gifts ^^

Looking back, parenting feels long but ends in a flash. I hope both children and parents can spend this time with sparkling smiles ☆ That is my wish ^^

To those who read this article, and to those who were even just a little bit interested, I want to cherish and nurture the connection we've made here.

Thank you for reading again this time.