Real Life #5

Tess is at a wonderful age where she can do so many tasks and activities independently. She chooses her outfits (which can be quite entertaining at times), gets dressed, helps with her hair, eats, plays, and cleans up with minimal assistance if necessary.

 

Brady boy is also gaining independence. We definitely still dress and feed the child but he has always been wonderful at independent play. I feel some of this is due to him being a boy and also in part because he was the second child. With Tess, I had nothing but time to coddle and cuddle with her.  Mr. Brady had to share my attention from the second he came on board with our little family.

 

All this being said, my days and nights at home with the kids are getting easier each and every week. I finally feel like we can play so much more and even take little trips into town without me wanting to yank my hair out by 4pm.

 

And then we had a situation last week...and I'm hoping it was an isolated incidence.

Here I am with the kids buckled in the car, the independent kids I mentioned above.  They are dressed, fed, have books and toys for entertainment, cups of water and snacks on board. We are set to go into town (which always seems to look and feel like we are taking a weekend vacation someplace magical). There is nothing, nada, that my children should need. We make it two minutes from the house and Brady begins to talk loudly. That slowly progresses to a scream and breaks into an all out wail. I'm puzzled trying to think of what on earth he may need.  This wailing annoys Tess and she starts to yell at him because "he's too loud, mommy!"  He doesn't stop, she becomes more frustrated, and soon I have two extrememly loud and fussy children.

 

I am two seconds away from pulling over onto the side of the road just so I can turn around and deal with the situation.  However, the highway didn't seem like the safest place to park so I continued on.  Even though I wanted to scream myself, I tackle the task of calming the kids down best I can.  I start with Tess and see what I can do to relax her.  Passing back a snack seemed to do the trick, along with an agreement that I will see why Brady is so loud. ;)

 

Next, I attempt to talk to Mr. B.  You momma's know it is pretty much impossible to level with a one year (plus) old.  I safetly pass back a toy and miraculously he calms down.

 

Now, tell me, when I have snacks, toys, and books in my children's possession already - why do they need more? 

 

I'm starting to conclude that my children are nearly self-sufficient up until the point where we get in the car!  Maybe it's a new game for them?  Or perhaps it's their (Brady especially) way of saying "I'm here too" as if I could forget as I load them and the entire car before leaving.  Regardless, it puts into perspective yet again how we, as parents, are amazing human beings.

 

 

 

I know I can relate to some of these too!