I am Kyle's self-indulgence

It's interesting how being a parent for nearly six years has altered the way I perceive and judge other people's parenting styles.

For example: as recently as just a few years ago, if I saw a naked child playing outside his house, I would certainly would have had some condescending words in my internal monologue. What are those parents thinking? Do they even know what their child is doing? Do they care?

But then today, on this unseasonably hot afternoon, Daniel and Eva were having a sprinkler party with some neighborhood kids in our yard. When I stepped outside to check on them, the neighbors had all left, and there was Eva, running around our backyard. Naked. Again. This despite our previous conversations about the importance of leaving one's swimsuit on until one is safely inside.

Fortunately for my ego, being a parent for nearly six years has also altered the degree to which I care how other people judge me.