Last week, my son had a friend over for a playdate, and his mother stood in the doorframe after our boys had sprinted off into the house and said, with a mix of surprise and heartstrings: “This is his first playdate without me coming along!”

I thought — what a great, often invisible, milestone in motherhood. You deserve a tiny parade! You’ve raised him to the point that he can separate from you and be a delightful houseguest on his own.

What are some other often-overlooked achievements worth tiny parades?

A few that spring to mind:

+Successfully making tahdig (or any other dish you’ve ruined multiple times in a row — tahdig is my personal Mount Everest in the kitchen);

+A day that feels bright after a dark spell;

+Taking something “all the way to the top” even when no one else notices (carrying something heavy, finishing a hard set of reps, making good on a commitment you’ve been dreading, etc.);

+Your child tying her own shoelaces or buttoning her own sweater;

+Quietly walking away from something that does not align with your values or best interests;

+An invitation to coffee with a new friend;

+Realizing an ache or ailment (of the heart or body!) has gone away;

+A good night of sleep after a long day;

+Upgrading your child’s shoe, diaper, or clothing size;

+Discovering you are on someone’s speed dial;

+Sticking to a habit for a full and round month;

+”Your screening came back normal”;

+Finding a tiny sign that you’ve made the right decision;

+Discovering you like a food or flavor you thought you’d hated;

+Realizing you’ve stopped wishing for something because life has given you something better.

Have you recently observed any of these in your life?! Let’s throw you a tiny parade! What else can we celebrate today?

Post Scripts.

+Perfect cashmere. I’m imagining pairing with this. (Look for less here.)

+Currently wearing these gorgeous everyday earrings. They work with everything from a t-shirt and jeans to a cocktail dress.

+On-trend Mary Janes for a good price.

+This wool work dress has been a top seller among Magpies the past few days. Perfect for a big presentation — another great occasion for “a tiny parade.”

+Another more idiosyncratic tiny parade: when I reach that little pocket of time during which I can run with shorts and a long-sleeved tee (<<these are the best cooler weather running long sleeves). I love the way it feels — cool on the legs, warm up top?! It’s so fantastic. I also recently switched my quarter socks for these half-calfs to pull up over leggings. These running socks are SO GOOD. Stretchy, slightly compressive, but breathable.

+Love this wool rabbit-motif sweater! Reminds me of styles from The Great, but for less.

+A fall-oriented watercolor guide!

+This splatterware bread pan makes me want to make our favorite fall banana bread!

+This dress is so beautiful on.

+Love the idea of layering this beautiful camisole in a fall color beneath a smart blazer.

+Climbing Tuscan Rosemary candle!

+Somehow missed this spectacular belted suede top in yesterday’s Sezane fall edit! Updated all my picks here.

+Donni’s latest fall drop includes their wildly popular taffeta pants in a cool taupe check.

+A great pair of cords.

+Another spectacular faux leather skirt to consider adding to your wardrobe.

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