Letters to Finley: Do you want us to put a helmet on your head?

Sometimes I wish you could talk, or at least nod.  I mean on purpose, with words, even if all you could say was yes or no that would help a lot.... Your dad and I have a decision to make about your head. I think it's perfect, but others think it's more flatish than roundish. Others think we should put a helmet on your head, so you look more like other babies, other babies with round heads. Shrug. The therapist says it just cosmetic and that it is our choice. When you need braces to straighten your teeth, I will not hesitate.  When you want a curling iron to curl your hair, I'll buy it for you. So why, why am I so hesitant to stick a helmet on your head?  See if you could talk, I would just ask you. Do you want to wear a helmet on your cute little noggin' for the next two, three, four months?  Some say the flatness will correct on it's own, that you will grow out of it. Would you rather us take the risk?  If you could talk maybe you would ask me why you have a flat head? I hope you know it's not because we left you laying on your back for hours upon hours.  You were held for the first three months of your life.  For the first few months after you were born, we didn't even own a swing or a bouncy seat. I held you. I know babies don't have the best memories, but you remember the wrap don't you?  You lived in it, attached to me.  You did sleep on your back, "back to sleep" per doctors orders. You also have this thing called torticollis, it's a tightness in your neck that makes you prefer to sleep on one side of your head and not move it back and forth, this contributed to the flatness. We have been doing lots of stretching with you and your neck muscles are improving, but your head, well others say it's still flat. Humph. The therapist says babies don't mind the helmets. If I was being completely honest, part of the reason I don't want you to wear one is because of my own pride.  Don't get me wrong my first thought was will it be uncomfortable for you, but my second thought was, what are people going to think...are they going to think I am a bad mom?  Are they going to judge me? Are they going to say things like "what's wrong with your baby?" I tell myself who cares what other people think, but then I feel like I am contradicting myself, because if I don't care what others think, then why am I putting a helmet on your head? Thhhheeeen, I think about what you would want and what is best for you.  Really that is the only thing I should think. So what's best for you? When you do start talking,  I don't want you to ask why I didn't correct your head when I had the chance.  While the idea of you in helmet bothers me, what bothers me more is the idea of you being self conscience for the rest of your life.  I promise whatever we decide it will be 100% because we think it is best for you and if we go with the helmet I promise we will get the cutest one they have and decorate it with princess stickers. When noisy people ask or little kids stare we will tell them that you are training for the 2030 Olympic snowboarding competition. 

XOXO,

Momma