Letting Go

I am learning as a parent that there is a lot that you just have to let go. That for me is really hard, because I like to be in control of a situation and I like my little girls to look pretty-- matching, hair done and all that. I have recently had to bite my tongue quite a bit and just let it go... Case in point-- yesterday Hannah decided I was no longer needed to help put her hair in a ponytail. I wish I had a picture of the different dos that she did, but I didn't have the camera and was feeding the baby. She finally did a small ponytail in the front like I do with her hair, but bumpy, uneven and frayed. The "natural mom" (or controlling, it has to be perfect mom) wanted to take it out re-brush the hair and make it look pretty, but I bit my tongue and let it be. Maybe if we were going to church I would have done it myself, but we were going to ride horses, so who cares--right?! The other thing that I have had to let go of with my girls is what they wear. I make sure even though they are young that they are dressed modestly (there is nothing worse than a little girl dressed like she was going to the Strip at Myrtle Beach around midnight during the summer), but most days (unless we are going somewhere special) I just let them wear what they want. Sometimes it is so funky, but I am learning that they are learning-- learning what looks good to them, what they like, learning independence and that they make good choices--even in clothing. And though it can sometimes be frustrating-- like when Ellie wants to wear a ratty old t-shirt to church and I have to veto it--I get better at saying, "that looks nice" through gritted teeth. But, I am finding that when they have confidence in their choices and that they are GOOD choices even in something as simple as what to wear, they make good (and better) choices in other aspects of their lives--But, still it sometimes makes me nuts to see what they wear! Maybe I can get some good pictures of some of their ensembles to post in the future...