Eating off the Floor

My 10-month-old daughter is eating food off the floor right now as I type. Is this a problem? I don't know. I vacuumed and steamed the floors a couple days ago and we sweep up after each meal. She threw the food off her high chair at breakfast when she was done with it and I haven't gotten around to cleaning it up yet. We started reading books. We brushed our teeth. The older kids showed me their latest lego creations. Life was happening all around me in a massive hustle and bustle and the cream cheese covered toast that fell to the floor fell extremely low on the priority list.

The food was good enough for her to eat a couple hours ago at breakfast, so I'm going to decide that it's good enough for her to eat right now...ummm...off the...cough...floor!

Do I even need to clarify that she is my fourth child? If this same thing would've happened with my first, I would just be disgusted and feel so embarrassed and ashamed. Now, I'm sharing it with the world! What changed? I guess one thing that has changed is that I've realized that my kids are going to be just fine. None of the “normal” everyday occurrences I've experienced in the last 8 years have caused much trauma to any of my kids. We've had bumps, bruises, spills, falls, even a broken bone, and at the end of the day, they are fine. They are strong. They are resilient.

Of course I still want to protect them. I don't let them run around outside barefoot (OK, I do...but not if there's glass) and I don't allow my 4- or 5-year-olds to check the mail across our country road. I still snuggle them and kiss their owies. We tuck them in bed each night and feed them nourishing meals. And I've realized that all of those things are what count in life and parenthood. Nurturing, loving, learning with, growing together, family time. Those things make a child healthy and happy. Not whether or not they've ever eaten dog food, gone to bed with dirty knees or eaten a couple innocent food scraps off the kitchen floor, (we're not even going to mention litter boxes here). All we as Moms can do is love them and give the rest over to the Lord. And maybe sweep the floor at the next available opportunity. But I won't tell anyone if you don't!