Swee'pea keeps pointing out the window and yelling, "New! New!" which is his word for moon. Last night when we went for our evening stroll, the moon was bright and he kept pointing at it and giggling hysterically and yelling, "New! Newwwww!" He wanted us all to keep admiring it and after we put his pajamas on I let him have another look through the window, lifting up his blackout blind. As soon as he saw its glow, he cackled anew. I wondered if his enjoyment stemmed its benevolent face. This morning, his fascination continues. The moon must be magic, if the innocent's response is anything to go by.
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Lately, Swee'pea's been doing some annoying things. Like climbing up on chairs and standing up, and when I go to pull him down, he leaps into my arms, completely unaware of any risk. Or climbing up on the wooden gate at the bottom of our stairs, and arching his back so he looks at the room upside down. He always smiles mischievously, like he knows he's pissing me off and revelling in it, and his smile gets wider, after I've told him to get down with no result and walk to remove him forcibly, like heh heh.
Yesterday afternoon, he did the gate thing, and I told him to get down and then went to remove him the way I usually do. His bratty smile got wider like it usually does. And just as I was about to grab his arms, he let go and fell backwards like the world's most ill-advised trust game. I wasn't able to grab any part of him, and I screamed, [Swee'pea]! His head smacked the floor with the most awful crack, but I think it was mostly because he hit the really squeaky bit of the floor. He cried, and I shook, and I wanted to yell at him, "Don't ever do that again!" I think I kind of did, but I tried to be gentle, not to be too I told you so, because that sucks when you're hurting. Now, he seems fine, but my legs were jelly and my heart palpitating for half an hour.
Hello 2024
10 months ago
19 comments:
Ooh, that is really scary with the daredevil stunts. I find every episode like that takes years off my life.
So cute about the moon though. Perhaps its the effect of the moon turning Swee'pea into the daredevil though?
toddlerhood -- when physical coordination is ahead of cognitive development.
which seems a*s-backwards, if you ask me.
they really are lunatics at this age, LB is 18 months next week. He's my third 18 month old boy - more boo-boos than is reasonable for a woman to console in one day. Eventually they start learning from their mistakes and that's a huge relief! I'm actually happy(insert bad mother comment here) that cold and wet weather is coming because I won't feel so guilty about not wanting to take him to the playground - where he attempts stunts that would challenge a 4 year old and bleeds or bonks or scrapes - winter, a great excuse to stay home and watch Thomas on TV, make brownies and color!
Unfortunately, they learn boundaries by hurting/scaring themselves. And some kids are just more risk-taking than others.
Which isn't much of a comfort - but I know the heart-in-throat feeling FAR too well.
Oh crap! How scary, I am sorry Sin, that must have just been horrifying
it's forever terrifying, isn't it...how our arms can't be everywhere at once.
Miss M loves the moon and she started that love affair at about Swee'pea's age. Her devotion to the moon is one of my favourite things about her. May these two be lunar lovers separated by age and distance.
They are always testing those boundaries, drat them.
I'm glad he's ok!
I love the moon too, Swee'Pea. :)
The problem with the old Toddler Daredevil Act is that it requires Mama to have nerves of steele. Not something I'm well suited for, personally. Good luck!
Lunatic is, of course, exactly right. Speaking of which, there'll be a full moon -- a harvest moon, in fact -- on the 26th. Swee'pea should be overjoyed.
While one part of me cringes in sympathy, another part of me laughs just a little bit - only because this is just the very beginning of those heartstopping moments of terror, and if I don't laugh I'll cry right along with Swee'pea. I've caught a 19 month old in mid-air as he tumbled off a four-foot high climber, missed as my 10-month careened off a bench to land head-first on a granite floor (in the mall at Christmastime, no less) and watched helplessly from across the room as a 22 month old crashed face-first into the wall unit necessitating five stitches in his lip... and that's just the highlight reel!
Ack! I hate that feeling...like your whole body is vibrating for a long time after, even though you know they are fine.
Maybe the game will have lost a bit of appeal now? Maybe?
Oh, yes. I can't count the number of times I've had to tell Mme L, "You have to warn people that you're jumping, because they might not be there to catch you."
Boundaries: meant to be pushed, according to the toddler. Even if you get a little scarred in the process.
Oh, I know that feeling so well. I feel so stupid and overprotective by hovering and constantly reminding him to be safe. And then he does something stupid and hurts himself. I don't know whether to be angry or vomit because it makes me sick to see him bleed.
i'm with that little guy on the moon. i am such a sucker for it and look at it every night.
and my daughter was a daredevil like that. it's hard.
Whoa!
I hope Swee'Pea recovered well.
Oliver does that too -- gives me that bratty look and I have to do serious deep breathing in order to stay cool.
This reminds me of when Oliver chipped his tooth last fall. I felt shaky all day afterward. Sometimes it takes them getting hurt to learn a lesson. Trouble is, *we* get hurt, too!
I hate the head bumps. Good thing he is ok....
The pull of that moon, in combo with the heat its just sort of overwhelming. He's a lunar one huh?
My heart just stops when my 2 year old starts messing around on the stairs -in spite of my telling him to knock it off!- and I see him waiver... Just.Stops.
I'm glad Swee'pea was ok after his fall. Hopefully, he'll remember that in future.
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