I am Melinda, a local mom and an 11th and 12th-grade English teacher in NYC schools. I am engaged to be married in 2019 and very excited to make my daughter our flower girl! I am also the owner of Melinda Anita Photography, a wedding and lifestyle photographer who captures weddings, families, maternity, seniors, and brand photography. After living in the Hudson Valley for most of my life, we have settled in Buchanan, NY. I can’t wait to see what the future holds for my family and share my journey with WCMB readers! I am not the mother I thought I would be.
As a mother of a two-year-old going on eighteen, I am constantly battling with my daughter about what she’s eating for dinner, her bedtime, and screen time. She responds, “No, thank you, mommy.” Her politeness makes it more complicated, especially when I warn her that there are only five more minutes before bedtime. This usually ends up in an argument with waterworks and then another hour of consoling and telling her it will be okay and that her tablet is not going anywhere.
I consider myself a “whatever it takes” kind of mother. I will do anything to make her happy, stop her crying, eat dinner, or sit down.
Before becoming a mom, I thought I would be the type of mom who would be strict and stand by “No means no.” Now, “No,” after tears and temper tantrums, it becomes a quick yes to get her to stop crying. She tests my patience and makes her dad and I laugh with all of the crazy things she says. I wouldn’t change it for anything.
My daughter is my first child, and she has changed me in ways I didn’t even know were possible.
She is fearless, sweet (mostly), and a joy to be around. Although almost three, she acts like an adult who makes decisions. I can’t wait to watch her grow up and see the kind of woman she becomes. She told me she wanted to be a doctor, and I had to call her Dr. Aubrey.
