Easy Does It

Thank you to those that provided advice and support after last week’s post.  I truly appreciate it.  I’ve been a parent for 14 months + 2 days and I’ve learned that there isn’t a one-fit parenting method.  I’ve learned that what worked last week may not work this week or any week following it.  It’s an evolving process and I took this time to re-adjust my parenting.

Because he insists on being a big boy I forget that he isn’t too far from baby.  A lot of our troubles seem to be around meal time—throwing food, utensils and dumping food on the floor.  Some of that may be toddler related, but I knew that he didn’t always behave that way.  Duc began feeding himself when he was 9 months old and a few months ago he migrated from finger food to eating with utensils.  Lately though he had begun handing the fork over to me.  In my hurry and stressed state I didn’t realize that was my son’s way of trying to connect with me at a time when I was distracted and short on time.  So, now I am back to feeding my son.  Often time he takes the fork away from me a few bites in and if he sees my attention drift from him he prompts me again by passing me his fork.  I’m even updating our bedtime routine for some more mommy-babe time.  I hold him close in the dark and sway while the music plays.  I can feel his little body relax and when he is ready he says “night-night” and I lay him down without tears. 

I’m still stressed and I’m still working longer hours, but I am making sure that the time I do have is devoted to him.  Quality, as we know, is often more important than quantity.

Today, Michael and I took him out while we did some photography around town.  He hung out, happy as a clam, playing with his cards when we took pictures of this and that.  We let him out to run on the trail and I was amazed that Duc could run as long and as fast as he could.  His little feet flew!  Oh,and Michael taught him to throw snowballs at mommy…not nice boys.

 

 

It was a good day and a nice end to a good weekend.