We met yesterday at the park, you with your husband and your 14 month old and me with Cookie and our 15 month old. You looked younger than us, and you seemed worried about everything about your baby. When our husbands went off to catch pokemons (the real reason we were all there) you asked me how old our baby was, two years? And worried about how small your baby was, how thin, and asked if our baby was in daycare. How you were going crazy staying in all day with him, but you couldn't decide if it was a good idea to part with him. You worried about how little he spoke (I know I worry about that too and your baby had more words than Baby Peanut) and confessed, with almost an apology, that he had always been breastfed and was still breastfeeding.
Mom At the Park, I wanna tell you, your baby is perfect. I'm not saying this in a bullshitty way, like how all babies are perfect no matter what (though they are, too, says my instinct and my heart). But he spoke well, he had great coordination, he shared rocks with Elias, he walked and climbed and sat up and down and drank from a cup with a straw. Your baby is developmentally normal. Perfect.
Perhaps it's not often that normal and perfect are used as synonyms, but it doesn't matter what weight percentile your baby falls in if he's staying in his curve and developing all his milestones. Stop worrying. Don't apologize, and certainly not to me, a stranger in the park that also still breastfeeds her gigant headed 15 month old.
I know I worry too. I mentioned his lack of words and his giant head and I didn't say anything but I worry about his weight too, because he used to be super chubby and he's becoming lean and I read that's normal but he's falling odd his curve and yet... He's meeting his milestones. He's happy and crazy and fine. Sure, he's big, compared to your baby. Or your baby, he's small, compared to mine. But did you see them compare each other? They were trading rocks and playing with sticks and touching each other and giggling. They don't worry about that stuff. They grow. They play. They are happy.
Let's not worry so much, you and I. I didn't mention, because I felt a little weird, but I should have said so anyway: you looked really pretty yesterday. Your baby is adorable and perfect. You are doing a great job.
I know it's hard to believe. But I think we both are.
