Play the Fool.
We could all learn a little something from Elmo’s friend Mr. Noodle. He is an adult who needs a lot of help from little kids to figure out how to do everyday things. This helplessness gives kids confidence because they feel really smart when they know more than an adult! For example, when trying to wash his hands he would do something like put his elbows in, then splash water on his face, or put his foot in the sink. Every time he does it wrong the little kids tell him the right way to do it until he finally gets it.
Find little ways to do this with your child everyday. Like forget how to put his shirt on in the morning. Or how to brush your/her teeth. How about what kind of utensil she needs to eat her cereal with? I’m sure there are a million things you can think of to “play the fool”.
*By the way this idea came from the Dr. Harvey Karp book The Happiest Toddler on the Block
She technically wasn’t born until 4:50 p.m. but close enough right? Last year was such a whirlwind of activity that I didn’t have a lot of time to get sentimental about it but this year I can’t stop getting all mushy and teary eyed. I am trying not to dwell on the sadness that is connected with this day. Even though it is the day the world was blessed by her presence it was also the day her first mother followed through with her heart wrenching decision to relinquish her. I have so many questions for this woman I have never met. I only have a picture of her and I can see her everyday when I look at Eva. Imagine if I am having all of these emotions what is it going to be like for Eva? I don’t want every single one of her birthdays to also come with a little bit of sadness.
Two days after Eva was born I sat at my dying Grandmother’s bedside asking her to put in a good word for me with God. We had been waiting for a little girl. Little did I know she had already been born. Thank you Grandma. I miss you.
The 8 month old baby that came home to me is all but gone. She eats normal food, feeds herself with a fork and spoon, drinks out of a normal cup, can turn off and on lights, opens doors, can undress herself, communicates her needs, tells me what she wants to watch on t.v., runs, jumps, climbs, occasionally uses the “big girl potty.”
She’s growing up so fast. I was writing down the things that she loves in her journal the other day and basically broke down crying thinking about the fact that the time until she is old enough to read it will come quicker then I could ever imagine. While I was sitting there on her bedroom floor watching her pretend to feed her dolly, her whole childhood flashed before my eyes and suddenly I was looking at a 16 year old girl. It was, well, terrifying.
Enough gooey mushiness. Here are some pictures.
At two weeks old
With daddy before her birthday party
Striking a pose
Best part of a birthday
The only picture with mommy of course.
Try to be patient when your infant throws an object over and over and over again. This is an important part of brain development, they are learning cause and effect.
When your child is older and still throws things have them help you pick it up. Or if they make a mess by coloring on the wall or spilling water have them help you clean it with a sponge or towel. My dd loves to help clean things, it makes her feel like a “big girl”.
I find that if I have her help me clean the mess it reduces my irritation and I think eventually she will get tired of cleaning and think twice before throwing all her food off the highchair. I could be dreaming but hey it’s worth a shot right?
This picture really has nothing to do with this post. Just my adorable daughter helping me make cookies on New Years Eve. And no, I did not make her help clean the mess!
Ever since my daughter was 9 months old she has been in the sport of hitting mommy. I remember the first time she did it, I was very surprised and tried to handle it as calmy as possible. For the first few months I just told her “no, hitting. Nice” and rubbed her hand gently on my face.
After she turned one I started getting mad when she would do it. I have never and will never hit my daughter, then why is she hitting me?! I would grab her hands and very sternly say “No, no hit!”
She is now one and a half and still does it. Actually she doesn’t just hit she scratches and pulls my hair too. She doesn’t discriminate either. She does it to other kids, daddy, and the dog! Now when she does it she immediatley says “Nice” and rubs her hand on my face. That’s great and all but in a couple of minutes she does it again, and again, and again. Since copius amounts of positive reinforcement hasn’t seemed to work I have started using time out after the third time. Originally I thought she was too young but it actually works quite well with her.
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