I find it amazing sometimes how children change so gradually that suddenly I realize my child has really reached a new level of development and I don't know when it happened. Yesterday we were at the Post Office to ship some packages. I went to the Post Office with both kids, dashing there when we had a free moment. I knew we'd be fine. We were fine. John held my hand in the parking lot, I wore Mary in the Ergo. John and I each carried a package. John stood next to me in line. He was quiet. We did our business and left.
And when we were done, I remembered a time that seems like just yesterday but must have been a year ago when Mary was an infant and John was just turned two. I had to mail some packages and going to the Post Office alone with both kids at those ages had me distressed with worry. John hated holding my hand and did everything he could to bolt in the parking lot, yanking his arm away from me and shrieking. For the first time I let him stand next to me in the line (instead of being confined in a stroller), but it took unceasing reminders that he had to stand right next to me, that means right next to me, no, you're too far away, no stand inside this square, see these lines? And I had to physically drag him back to me countless times as the line slowly advanced because he wouldn't respond to verbal commands. He was loud and shrieky and bothered other customers. Then it was scary walking him back through the busy parking lot to our car.
Somehow between that memorable visit and this one yesterday, slowly and gradually John has learned and grown to be pretty pleasant and easy on these outings. And Mary is still easy because she's still confined. I just find it so interesting to watch this development in little kids!
Isn't it just... Odd to think something so gradual seems to have overnight results. Emma was still really needy just before she turned 3, but it seemed like as soon as her baby brother came home and she reached her third birthday, everything clicked and she not only became pretty self-sufficient, but also started following instructions much better. Now most of our "clashes" involve her exclaiming she's a "big girl" and can do it all herself.
ReplyDeleteMy big switch has been from "in front of me" to "get behind me". It snuck up on me, too. I have been instructing my children to be in front of me for so many years now, in an effort to supervise and herd them when we are out. Now in a complete reversal, I am instructing my now 9,8, and 6 year old to get out from in front of me- I can't see where I am going! They are so used to it now, that it is proving a difficult change. I had a moment of clarity one day last year when we were trying to come in the house and they were all standing in front of me and I couldn't unlock the door! Also, now I put one of them in charge of holding the 3 year olds hand. Somehow, in the busyness of living these changes seem to come along gradually until you are surprised by how suddenly it all happened!
ReplyDeleteAlicia