The One where I'm a Mom - Snob

I'm pretty opinionated when it comes to raising kids.  I was basically an early childhood development major in college, I nannied all throughout college, and I worked at a family summer camp every summer in college. I saw tons of different amazing families in action, and others that were pretty dysfunctional. Through all of these experiences, I made up my mind on a few points. We could call them ideals, standards, goals, whatever, but I am now finding them pretty unrealistic.

All I have to say is, a girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do. Here are some of my standards that have already been smashed, and my girls are only 7 months old.

1. My babies will never use toys with batteries/lights, etc.
I love classic wooden toys, puzzles, stacking cups, rattles, basic blocks, and toys that need imagination. Then Emily had to go to physical therapy because of her torticollis.  She literally couldn't turn her head to the left. We tried everything with no success. But as soon as her therapist busted out the obnoxious light up Winnie the Pooh singing toy, Emily attempted to turn her head to look at it. A miracle! Her therapist recommended we buy something similar so that I could continue working with her at home. My heart sank.  Crap. I swore I would never do it. But when it came to my baby's development, I knew I needed to get one. 98% of the girls' toys are still without batteries, but I know that they aren't going to die if they see a flashy toy.

2. My babies will never watch TV.
According the the American Association of Pediatrics, they say children under the age of 2 should watch NO television. None.  I really do understand why, though. It's not just the content, but also the speed in which the shows move. The way there are tons of camera angles flashing back and forth, cutting to and from different perspectives.  They say that watching lots of TV under the age of 2 increases the factor of ADHD greatly. Another study showed that pre-k children that watch fast-paced cartoons (Sponge Bob, etc) versus slow-paced shows had a much higher rate of ADHD. We still try to avoid TV at all cost.
But can I say that since day one these babies have been attracted to the TV like moths? We would always face them away so they wouldn't look. It's pretty hard to do! I will no longer judge mamas that let their kids watch TV. Our family has finally compromised that the babies can watch a Baby Einstein DVD once a day if they are super fussy. Sometimes its the only way that my hubby and I can eat dinner together without screaming in the background! I like that Baby Einstein has lots of fun colorful pictures and toys, but is slow-paced for babies' eyes. I recommend the Baby Mozart one for the early months! :)
                   *side note: The other day I pressed play and ran off to the bathroom. My girls got to watch  the first 5 minutes of Thor. Oops. Make sure you have the right DVD in!

3. My babies will never drink formula.
My body was not physically able to produce enough milk for 2 babies. Long story. At one point I was taking 16 pills a day to increase my supply, trying all the homeopathic stuff, pumping every hour, and I still made only 1 bottle a day. We needed 14-16 bottles a day. It broke my heart to give them formula, but they needed to eat! Sometimes we just fall short.

4. I will never get a mini-van.
Ok, so we can't afford one, but oh-em-gee I suddenly want a minivan. I don't care how I look. I don't care if it has wood paneling. Just please, get me a car where the doors open for me! Fitting 2 babies, a mega twin stroller, and groceries in my sedan is like the worst game of Tetris ever.  I give up.

I could go on and on. The moral of the story is: never say never. Of course, it's good to have high goals for your child and their development, but sometimes a few things are ok in moderation.
Where have you had to compromise your unrealistic standards?