To celebrate the debut of The Everything Else Tote, created with Dusen Dusen, we’re launching Parenting &—a Q&A series spotlighting the incredible person behind the parent, in all their multitudes. Because adding ‘parent’ to the bio doesn’t shrink who you are—it multiplies it.
And the “&”? That’s where it gets good.
Meet Amrit Tietz: full-time mom &… DJ, creative entrepreneur, motherhood and maternal care advocate, co-founder of Spread the Jelly—amongst other things.
What’s one rule you’ve broken—on purpose—that made parenting feel more like yours?
The rule I’ve broken is that there are no rules. There’s a million different ways to parent, I like to absorb as much as I can without holding myself to anything in a finite way. As they grow older (and you do too as a parent) your toolkit can also evolve. If they’re feeling snuggly and you want to have a sleepover, bring on the bed time huggies. If they want pizza for dinner even though you’ve made dinner.. is it really the end of the world to go grab a slice ? I try to remind myself that all they’re going to remember is: all the times you were there for them.
What’s something small you do every day that feels like resistance, or care, or both?
Take a deep breath and appreciate what I have. The list of to do’s will always be long. There’ll always be something I haven’t gotten to, I used to let that eat away at me but I am realizing now that not everything can get done sometimes and you just have to make peace with leaving the laundry or that work email till the next day. Also carving out a moment of time for my relationship with my husband where it isn’t focused on my child. Even if it’s something simple like walking the dog together to go grab a matcha.
What’s something you learned about yourself only after becoming a parent?
I learned that being present trumps anything you could do for your child. Ultimately your kid is just going to want to hang out with you. No phone, no distractions. Just quality time that is dedicated to being with one another and that doesn’t need to involve a fancy activity or elaborate plan. It can be just sitting with one another coloring or going to the grocery store together.
Keep up with Amrit at @itsamrit + grab this summer’s IT bag—The Everything Else Tote—available 6/24 on the Little Spoon Merch Store.
