Yesterday’s air held about 110 percent humidity; the day was gray and oppressive. By Saturday, we’ll be back to sunshine and perfect temps.
The thing about bad weather, the thing that I try to remember, is that without it, we wouldn’t really appreciate the good weather. If we didn’t have to suffer through heavy humidity or brutal cold or pouring rain, we wouldn’t know just how good we have it on the days when the sun shines, the breeze blows and the temperature is just right.
Yeah, yeah, I hear you: Are you seriously talking about the weather? For a whole blog post?
Nope, just working my way up to a good, old-fashioned analogy.
I’ve seen several conversations around the blogosphere lately about which stages of childhood are the hardest, the most difficult, the most irritating, the most exhausting. Is it colicky crying infancy? Is it the terrible twos or the torturous threes? What about 6-year-old girls or 11-year-old boys?
My parenting resume is only 20 months long, so I realize I’m nowhere near an expert. So, please, please know that my thoughts are based only on my limited experience.
But it seems to me that if it wasn’t for the difficult stages of childhood, we wouldn’t appreciate the good times nearly as much.
A couple months ago, Annalyn learned how to be naughty overnight. Like a switch was flipped or something. She learned to say NO, she realized the power she holds over us with this thing called free will, she decided that all the things off limits (the stereo, the stove, the computer) were the most interesting things in the house.
She became . . . a toddler.
She also gave up eating good meals – stopped eating pretty much all veggies (which she previously loved and ate by the cup), started craving crackers (which encompasses anything crunchy and carby).
And did I mention the sleeping issues? The waking up in the middle of the night, sometimes to play, sometimes to scream, sometimes to eat (because, oh yeah, she only wanted crackers the day before)? Yes, there were sleeping issues.
And I can’t forget to mention that my darling, brilliant daughter is Still. Not. Walking. And while it’s not her fault that I’m now dealing with doctors and specialists and programs and therapists and red tape and phone tag, well, it just ices the New Toddler Cake.
It’s been a rough few weeks.
But on Sunday, we caught a glimpse of the sun. After feeding Annalyn three Oreos (double stuffed, of course) for breakfast, we had the sweetest, cutest, most fun day ever.
I’m sure it had nothing to do with the cookies. Nuthin’ at all. (Please, don’t everyone rush out to nominate me for Mother of the Year.)
So, we survived another difficult phase, and now the sweet moments seem just that much sweeter.
Things like this:
Or this, when she actually DID eat a good dinner:
And sometimes, even the ornery looks cute:
Now, don’t get me wrong. I fully anticipate that I’ll be howling again in a week, in a month, in a day – whenever the next difficult stage arrives. But until then, I’m treasuring these good times.
You might even say that life is so bright, she’s gotta wear shades . . .
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What’s your favorite stage of childhood? When are they the cutest, the most fun, the best ever?
oh i loved this post. you're right. the bad totally makes the good look GREAT!
4 is a really good age! samantha's about to turn 6 and man, the ATTITUDE!!!
and oreos?! can i come to your house for breakfast?!
Someone once told me that all stages of childhood have some aspect to them that's hard. I didn't believe it, as at the time I had a colicky newborn. Now that I have toddlers, I'm seeing how true that is!
Have you read the posts I sent to you?
I really do think every stage is the hardest, because it's the one you're living. But, truly, the difficult moments make the sweet moments even sweeter!
In the same way, I can't say I have a favorite stage. They're all my favorite so far, because they all have wonderful aspects. (If not terrifying ones, too. LOL)
Hi, I found you via Meredith @ Merchant Ships. Your post is so sweet and so true.
I have an only child who is 10, and sometimes I say he is more difficult now than when he was an infant, all because he's so verbal. Not in a bad way. He is learning so rapidly and has questions about everything and sometimes I have to tell him "No more questions. I have no more answers!"
He's also getting more independent and it's hard sometimes for my husband and I to judge where we should maintain strictness and where we can allow more leniency.
Anyway! He's a great kid and I am enjoying each stage of his life. I love finding out WHO he is!
Your daughter is adorable and I think she will surprise you one day soon by just taking off!
Love the shades pictures! (and the outfit she's wearing in them is really cute too, even though I know that's not really the point — but hey, it could be! Cherish this time when she can wear such cute little clothes and you are able to make sure they match!;)
I haven't had that much experience with kids, but I think my favorite ages are probably just over a year and the preschool years. I do think that it's more accurate to say the "terrible threes" than the "terrible twos," but like I said — very little experience here. :) And in therapy, preschoolers are easier to "trick" into doing work by using games/reinforcement — those older kids are just too smart! ;) But you can also have intelligent conversations with the older kids, which is really nice. So I guess it's a toss-up. :) If I were a parent, I would definitely not be looking forward to the teenage years though… (poor teens — they sure get a bad rep, don't they?)
I have such good memories of when my son was in his elementary years, especially around age 7 and 8. He was becoming more and more independent, but still loving and cuddly.
Great post! I love the picture at the beginning and then following up with her pics!!! AWWWW she is soo precious.
Every stage has its rewards and challenges and I think it just depends what stage y'all are currently in as to what you think.
And mid 90-s is hot? really? LOL ;-) It was a heat index of 105 or 107 today ;-) Yep, and that's WET heat ;-) woo. pardon me while i pass out.
I remember with Grace it seemed like the first year took FOREVER!! We were constantly waiting for her to achieve the next milestone, to do the next thing…etc. But with Ruby it all seems to be going soooo fast! Once Grace started talking, we were laughing every day. She is a VERY verbal child, which has it's moments, like today, when she shouted to Ruby "I HAVE HAD JUST ABOUT ENOUGH OF YOUR SCREAMING!" But hearing her say "I love you, Mommy" 37 times a day is ALWAYS awesome! Ruby is also very verbal, but in a very different, ear splitting, screeching, yelling, headache inducing sort of way. I am very much looking forward to hearing her say some words, and getting past the teething stage-DEFINATELY NOT MY FAVORITE!
I love the baby stage…like right now with my sweet Lily…I'm having a little trouble with all 3 of the stages my other children are in. my 8 year old is getting a little easier than earlier this year, but…what ev. Funny I just posted about finding joy in motherhood…and TV…uh, okay.
I find that I enjoy each stage more than the last stage! And when I'm in a current stage, I swear it's the best stage yet (tantrums and toddlerism included).
Loved your comment on the LPM blog and jumped over, glad I did! Yep, the sneak up on you switch from baby to toddler is a lot to take in, but just put her in footy pajamas and when she's sleeping, lol, all is right with the world again. Plus there's so much more to DO now. :)
Blessings,
Carolynn