Anyway, I looked at him sleeping . . . all cute and cuddly with blankets strewn everywhere . . . and then I came back to my office and looked at this picture from this weekend . . .
. . . and I thought about four things:
1. I can hardly remember the what the tantrum that he threw about 30 seconds after this picture was taken was about but I will always remember the look on his face the first time he saw his humongous pile of chocolate chip pancakes (of which he only ate one). I just need to make sure we keep having the moments we'll remember in the midst of all of the "character-shaping" ones we hope to someday forget.
2. Jack is still the same sweet kid that I've always loved. He still hugs spontaneously. He still tells me that he loves me. It's just a stage. It's just a stage. It's just a stage . . . this is what I will repeat to myself several times daily. Thanks to those of you who have been reminding me of that with your encouragement.
3. This stage means he's developing normally. For this, I am thankful. These little fits can actually be considered little blessings.
4. As dramatic as these situations seem at the time, there are WAY worse things that we could be going through with him. We are so lucky.
5 comments:
Oh Sara...I can totally relate! We often find ourselves asking where the Moses is that we had for 2 1/2 years! For a while he was replaced by a completely different kid as well...luckily he has leveled out and is more old Moses then new Moses these days. It is hard though, in those crazy moments. I bought the book "It's a Boy"...it's a book that is all about the stages a boy will go through from birth to 18. It has been a tremendous help to me...reassuring me that "this is a stage" and that it is healthy. I read some of it at least once a month if not more. :) I would highly recommend it. :)
After reading your recent posts, I half expected to see a little monster throwing things off the salad bar or something at lunch...
But then when I did see Jack, his face lit up and he ran up to me, put his head on my lap, and gave me a hug. Then when my mom told him she loved him, he said, "Love you more Sherry." It's good to know he really is still that same sweet boy he was before Chicago =)
P.s.
You and Kyle are awesome parents. In fact, my mom and I constantly comment on this fact. And while you're lucky to have Jack in your lives, he's definitely lucky to have the two of you as parents as well.
I posted that last night before I saw your post...and then I felt bad about the timing, so I'm glad he was asleep by the time you read it!
Hope today was better. But trust that you're right...these are character-building moments, difficult though they are.
Hey Sara, You are so allowed to have these little mental moments. I can hardly imagine what mine will be like. You know, part of being good parents are moments like these, were you question, wonder, feel like screaming, don't know, can't understand... it is that commitment to finding out or hoping your doing the right thing that makes you a good parent. I am afraid blissfully easy is probably just in movies. LOL Yes I am afraid since I still have many many stages to get through... by the way, thanks for paving the way on that one sweetie. And you make a very good point about normal being a blessing. Keep up the awesome work... hey someone wise once said their life was "a little less ordinary!"
Take heart in knowing that this is normal. Otherwise you can at least know that my two year old is doing the exact same things. Sweet one minute and psychotic the next.
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