“Possession is nine-tenths of the law is an expression meaning that ownership is easier to maintain if one has possession of something, and much more difficult to enforce if one does not.” (www.wikipedia.org.) I have decided to apply this principle to my parenting of Alex.  My version reads:  Possession of Alex 90% of the time, makes it easier to keep him safe and out of trouble.  You see, Alex is a runner, a dare devil, and a breaker of any and every rule.  He can be sure to get into a room, a plant and a predicament as soon as I leave the room.  Here’s a little sample of my day:

                We don’t throw food…Don’t spit out your milk…What did you just eat off the floor? …Get back here…The plant is not a toy…We don’t eat dirt…Get down…Sit down…Andrew, where is Alex?...Alex, where are you?...We don’t hit our brother with cars…The toy box is not for sitting…How did you get on the table?...Don’t bang the table…We don’t throw toys…Yuck! Don’t drink that!...Rocks are not for eating…Alex! Alex! Come back here!

                So you get the idea.  I do try to positively reinforce whenever possible.  And I know in his little mind, he is competing for my attention and trying to make his presence known. I am just so amazed how much he has learned and how much personality he has - in 16 months!

                There is another side of Alex too.  He is a cuddler and a snuggler.  He loves to give and receive hugs and kisses.  When he gets up in the morning he wants to sit on your lap and stay there.  The same is true right before bed.  These are moments I soak in.  (Plus they help me rest up f or the day ahead!)

                This will be the summer of running!  Good thing we live on a cul de sac!

*Note:  No Alexes or mommies were hurt during the writing or posting of this blog.  He’s asleep! :)

The Wonder Years

          I have a three and a half year-old.  The book, What to Expect the Toddler Years, stops at 36 months, so now I’m on my own.  I guess I could buy another book, but to be honest, having a toddler and working makes my life a wee bit busy. (Oh, and there’s my 16 month old. He’ll be featured in another blog. J)   I don’t have time to stop in the middle of a meltdown and consult a book, so I practice a lot of trial and error. 

          I am forever shaking my head in amazement at the things Andrew says and does.  It dawned on me over the weekend that these are my wonder years…

Ø  I wonder how I can spend 30 minutes cleaning a room only to have it destroyed in 30 seconds.

Ø  I wonder how I can spend 5 minutes smacking the sand out of a shoe only to pick it up later and more sand dumps out!

Ø  I wonder what boogies are made of and how they become hermetically sealed to your nose.

Ø  I wonder why you think “yes” means “no” and “no” means “yes”?

Ø  I wonder what internal mechanism tells you 6:00 is weekday wake up time and 5:30 is weekend wake up time.

Ø  I wonder how you’ve already figured out the art of negotiating – well, sort of, since “one more time” usually turns into three and “two more minutes” usually turns into five! J  

Ø  I wonder how you can make me laugh and cry at the same time.

Ø  I wonder if you will still tell me I am your “best, best friend” when you are a teenager and want to borrow the car.

          Parenting is hard.  Reading books and articles helps some as does talking with other parents.  I try to smile as much as possible and appreciate as many moments as I can – even the trying ones.  I have been told over and over how fast time goes by.  I want to bottle some days and, well, let’s be honest, erase some others.  In the end, I couldn’t imagine my life without children.  I never wonder what it would be like without them.  J