Thoughts By PL: The Choice to Cuddle
“Thoughts by PL” is a monthly blog written by PL Bastian, Nu Image’s Co-Owner, President & General Manager. In this space, she will share reflections on her experiences as a woman in business, a mother, what it means to work in this industry, current happenings and everything in between. Join us the first Thursday of every month for a raw and open conversation with PL.
This past month our daughter and first-time mother visited James and me for several days with our newest grandchild, Clara. Before they arrived, I realized I settled into my usual pattern of busying myself with cleaning, cooking and organizing to fit the perfect version of “grandmother” I always strive to be. I know I can get easily wrapped up in that version of myself, but for this visit, I decided to make a different choice.
I have somehow taken on being the drop-off, collection and distribution centre for my grandchildren’s clothing. The most recent batch of drop-offs sat for a few days—maybe longer—in our family room amongst the car seat, play mat, Crayons Collection books, half-open bag of size 2 diapers and a few toys. My vision and expectation for my role as keeper of clothing was a Marie Kondo level of organization and perfection. I could choose to sort by colour and fabric, spot clean with extra attention, wash, hang to dry (never being caught putting things in the dryer), fold, divide, even press, as needed, the multitude of sleepers, piles of onesies, fuzzy tops, baby jeans, dinosaur pajamas, zero to three months, three to six months and the list goes on. I could choose to organize by colours I love and colours I don't care for, cute things, functional pieces, all worn by one grandchild and ready for the next grandchild to wear. Oh, I could even choose to pack them in Ziplock bags with a label, adding cute stickers to brighten the recipient's day. I could choose to be ready for a visit my new grandbaby by folding and organizing baby clothes, writing handwritten notes to accompany each bag, sorting the recycling and cleaning the bathrooms, going to a yoga class and then getting dressed into something nice, all while cleaning the kitchen with organic products and cooking a heart smart dinner. I know Marie Kondo would be proud!
I could have chosen all of that. But maybe next time. This time around, I made a different choice—the choice to cuddle my granddaughter and let the rest pile up.
I hope you find the balance between what you ought to do and what you want to do, between being an ideal version of yourself and being the real version of yourself, and between the choices you should make and the choices you want to make.
PL💗