It took us less than nine months, but we finally did it. HOS and I both made Charlotte cry, and on the same day!
How, you ask, did we achieve our first “mean mommy” and “mean daddy” awards? With two little letters …
“No.”
Charli and I were cuddling on the couch this morning when she reached up and grabbed my cheek and right eye with her dagger-like fingers. I pulled her hand away and used my stern mom-voice (first time, too). All it took was me saying “no.”
Her blue eyes got big and quickly filled with tears while her bottom lip started to tremble.
I’ll be damned if she didn’t win that fight. I swooped her up in a hug so fast and told I was sorry, but she hurt mommy. She buried her precious face in my shoulder and cried.
I felt like the worst parent.
HOS had a similar situation this afternoon while I was shopping. Charlotte is crawling!! (Video soon) and she managed to make her way over to pull on the cords in the entertainment center.
HOS told her no and the heart-breaking cry face commenced.
My best friend reminded me that it will likely get easier with time. … I’m just hoping Shane and I become a little less whipped so we can toughen up!
This Side of the Rainbow 
I wanted to leave a reply that let you know that we have all been there, that encouraged you, that didn’t even hint at being “know it all” (because I for one have not figured out this parenting thing), and that told you what a great job we think both you and Shane are doing–but I didn’t quite know how to say all that, so I’ll just say, we hear you!