I Fail the Mommy Pop Quiz

   Over the years, I've read a lot of articles and books on motherhood and parenting in general... and that only increases now that I work for a Parenting Magazine, but the one article I've never read is the one telling new moms that they should always be prepared for the Mommy Pop Quiz.

   I never imagined that so many people (both those I know, as well as those I meet in public at the grocery store or in other settings) would be so interested in the numbers that pertain to my kids. It seems I'm asked almost daily how much my children weigh, how much they weighed (at various ages from birth to the present), how tall they are, how much they eat, how often they eat, how many weeks old they are, how many weeks pregnant I was, how much I weighed when pregnant... the list goes on. And when I'm asked, my answer is typically, "I don't know." And that is the truth... I don't. When it comes to the Mommy Pop Quiz... I fail!

   Please don't misunderstand. I realize that this information is important in the larger context of my children's health. And, I do value their health and well-being very much. My kids have never missed a recommended check-up at the doctor's office, and we've been diligent to record milestones. I keep the forms from the doctor in each child's folder where their numbers (weights, length, height, etc) is recorded and preserved for our reference. But, because those records are safely kept where I need them when I need them... I've NEVER bothered to memorize them. Not with my first, not with my second, and not with my third. I know how to purchase clothing and shoes that fit them as needed, I know their birthdays, I take them to the doctor, and we follow recommended medical advice when it comes to their needs as they grow.... so remembering their exact weights at each and every month's passing off the top of my head - it simply isn't a priority for me.

   So, next time you wonder how much my kids weigh or how tall they are... I truly don't know off the top of my head, but I do know where I can find that answer when I need it and most importantly I know that my love for them is beyond measure and that is what really counts.

Written By Kristina Light