Fern's down for her first nap, so it's just Burl and me. I start a game with him and this is how it goes: stack all the same colored letters together -to- sort the letters into bowls -to- Burl dumping piles of letters back and forth between bowls. And I realize that it's starting.
My friend and I joke about how there are times that we need our kids (and it's good for them) to play on their own. They pull at us, and we encourage them to go play with their blocks, their books, their animals, etc. The funny part is that in a few years, they're going to be playing with their friends or by themselves and it's going to be us pulling at their clothes, trying to get them to play with us.
Another one of my friends talks about missing her "big boys." Her toddlers take more time and attention and she misses her older boys. They buckle themselves into the car seats and she wishes they needed her help.
As Burl took over our little Mama-Burl playtime and launched into his own rhythm, separate from me, I thought to myself that it's starting. He's pulling away from his Mama, and I got a little dramatic about it in my head.
I just sat there on the floor, watching my little baby turning into a kid. I snapped pictures. I praised. I watched. I adored it. He might want to play on his own, but he loves having me there watching him. I relish that. And now, I relish even more the times that he asks me to "come Mama. Watch me."
Sometimes I'm changing Fern's diaper, cleaning, or just making the wrong decision to keep with what I'm working on at the moment, but hopefully, I'll start to remember that this little time is short and fleeting. Playing with my kids is fun and special and my hope is that we will have sweet memories of these times together.
I don't want to sound like one of those people who always find something critical to say ('cause I can't stand those people!).....but one thing I found with children is that sometimes it's important for them to have to wait for your time or attention(unless they're infants, or in pain/sick). It's important for them to learn that other people have needs, tasks, things to be done. Not always, but sometimes. Kids who get used to parents who drop everything to deal with their every need, tend to be self-centered (long past the stage where they're all self-centered).
ReplyDeleteThanks for the criticism. wink-wink. I like to craft, keep a clean house, and get out and about a lot. Trust me...Burl has times when he has to entertain himself. And Ferny is just too good at playing by herself.
DeleteThanks!!! Meg
I agree with Carol-Anne, kids need to learn to be alone. BUT, it is with a heavy heart that you realize you are not needed to do the little fun things. Toddlers are for such a short time, especially that first one. Kiss him, hug him, and play with him as long as you can. That middle age for kids is much longer and that baby/toddler stuff is so important to watch and document for your own memories. Good job, Meg!
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