Parenthood has a way of forcing you to think about things you never really questioned before—things like how to instill financial literacy, the importance of rest versus hustle, and how to make sure your child understands balance in all areas of life. Recently, my family and I had a deep conversation about parenting, and my brother made a point that stuck with me. He shared that by overcompensating for the absence of the other parent, he feels like his children don’t fully understand the value of a dollar. And I got it.

I was raised in two very different financial worlds. My mom had me at 16, still figuring out life, and things weren’t always easy. But my dad was active and able to provide experiences that weren’t always within my mom’s reach. Having that contrast gave me a unique perspective on money, privilege, and priorities. It also shaped the way I want to raise my daughter.

One thing I’ve been intentional about is teaching her that downtime isn’t just for turning up—it’s also for resting, resetting, and grinding when necessary. Balance is everything. So, as her birthday approached, I decided against throwing a big party. Not because I don’t want her to feel celebrated, but because I want her to understand early that celebrations don’t always have to be grand to be meaningful. Memories don’t cost.

Fast forward a few days after that deep conversation, and I get a phone call: My family is throwing my baby a birthday party at Chuck E. Cheese. My first thought? Did that conversation not resonate with y’all at all? Like… what am I missing here?

But then I took a step back. There were two ways to process this:

1. I could be frustrated that my values weren’t fully considered.

2. Or I could acknowledge that, at the core of it, my family just wants to create memories with my daughter. And if I’m being honest, I wish they made more of an effort to do that throughout the year.

So instead of overanalyzing it, I chose gratitude. They aren’t undermining my values—they’re showing love in the way they know how. And maybe, just maybe, that’s a lesson in itself.

Sometimes, perspective is the real gift… I can’t wait to see their pictures!

And if you’ve read this far, come out this Saturday (2/22/24) to Blue Sunday in Bowie, MD at 3pm to have a drink and celebrate parenthood with me.

Xoxo, Drea