Long before I started this Oops and Daisies blog — heck, long before I had my daughter — I decided I’d keep my kid’s name off public sites, like this one. It’s my attempt at privacy in this online world where we share so much of our lives.
Will her name be posted by a well-meaning family member or friend at some point, like in the comments of a public Facebook photo? Maybe, but there’s only so much we can control in social media. But here on this blog, I can do as I wish, so I plan on referring to her as my Little Miss in an attempt to maintain a modicum of privacy, even as I blog about about parenting.
I’ve been referring to her as Little Miss for awhile over on another blog I write for, and it just seemed to stick, even around the house. But more and more lately I realize that she’s not “little” anymore.
I mean, sure, she’s still a little kid, but recently one of her favorite words has become “baby.” She’ll point to an “old” photo of herself from a year ago, and proudly declare “baby.” Occasionally she’ll even do the sign language for the word (holding her arms to her chest, like she’s rocking a baby).
Still, Little Miss seems to have stuck, at least for now. But I do find the need to remind myself lately that she isn’t going to always be a toddler, and she isn’t always going to have a limited vocabulary.
It’s weird the way life works. As a busy mom, we often get so wrapped up in our day, we forget how fleeting time with our kids can be, that at some point, they won’t need a diaper change and they’ll stop asking to be pushed on the swing. Our kids will change, grow up, and become their own person.
I even remember when Little Miss was younger… you know, a whole year ago… when I couldn’t imagine he
r anything but a wee little baby. Now that she’s a toddler, I can’t imagine her walking any other way than her clomping Frankenstein walk, and holding on to me monkey style when she really, seriously doesn’t want me to put her down. (Then again, just this morning, she decided to crawl again… and it made me wonder, when was the last time she crawled?!)
Then every once in awhile it hits me; she won’t be Little Miss forever. One day, as a teen, I’m sure, she’ll beg for personal space, kind of like I beg for personal space on occasion now. One day, she won’t have that same baby giggle she does when we blow bubbles, or the dog does something funny.
That’s exactly why I try to cherish each day with her, because every morning she wakes up, she’s growing, she’s changing, and I’m not ready to think of her any other way than the wonderful sweetheart – the wonderful little miss – who she is currently.
When she does grow up, I want her to have a choice about whether I share her name with the big, wide world. Until that time, she’s our Little Miss.
Update: Since I wrote this post, I’ve had baby number two… a sweet baby boy in January 2017. Just like with Little Miss, I made the same decision, and he goes by nicknames like Buster and Boo Boo instead.
Do you share your kids’ names on social media? Why or why not? I’d love to hear your reasoning below!
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