Mommy's Boy
Saturday, February 19, 2011
I like to give Marin a hard time on this blog. When you are the mother of an almost 2 year old, it is nice to have an outlet (like this blog) to vent your frustrations of raising a hellion. :) In all seriousness, Marin is really a good kid. He's just, well....nearly 2! It comes with the territory, or so I've been told.
Finding out that you are capable of making decisions for yourself is very exciting. Finding out that your parents still get final say sucks big time. Children Marin's age are very aware of their surroundings. They notice every minute detail and sometimes obsess over the smallest things.
For example, there is a drawing of a fish on a fast food restaurant sign near our house. Marin knows which direction the "fish" is and asks to see it. If you explain to him that you aren't going that way, he starts to whine. If you do pass by the fish, he is happy to see it but then mad after it is out of sight again. He will say, "Fish! More!" and get upset if you don't distract him with something else.
Another good example is trucks on the interstate. Marin loves seeing them. He also thinks you can order up trucks anytime you want. If one passes by, he immediately starts yelling for "more" trucks. He doesn't understand that just because he wants to see more trucks that they aren't going to magically appear on demand.
On the flip side, Marin is the most loving child. He gives out hugs and kisses at random. He rubs your back if he thinks you don't feel good. If you hurt yourself he says "ouchy" and looks at you with a sad face. He is also very forgiving. If you apologize to him for anything, he always says, "O.k." and gives you a hug and a smile.
Marin is also the most polite child. He says please and thank you (unprompted most of the time). :) The things he thanks us for constantly amaze me. He will thank me for changing his diaper or helping him with his clothes. What 22 month old does that? He wipes his mouth with a napkin when he's finished eating. He will clean off his highchair tray with a paper towel. He comes up behind me when I'm down in the floor cleaning up his messes and pats me on the back. When he comes into a room that you are in, he greets you with a "hi" or a "hello" just to be nice. He's just too sweet for words sometimes.
I guess the moral of the story is to model good behavior for your kids. If you are polite to your spouse, they are watching. If you say please and thank you to others in their presence, they are listening. If you are affectionate with them, they will be affectionate with you. Teach them the skills you want them to have early. There is no reason that a 22 month old can't help clean up after lunch, help pick up their toys, etc. Yes, their "helping" may be more of hindrance sometimes and clean up will take longer, but at least they are learning responsibility.
I know that his 2 year old tantrums are just a phase and that he will eventually grow out of screaming in restaurants and crying over the least little grievance. We will look back on this and laugh someday. In the meantime, his sweet hugs and kisses will have to get us through.
Finding out that you are capable of making decisions for yourself is very exciting. Finding out that your parents still get final say sucks big time. Children Marin's age are very aware of their surroundings. They notice every minute detail and sometimes obsess over the smallest things.
For example, there is a drawing of a fish on a fast food restaurant sign near our house. Marin knows which direction the "fish" is and asks to see it. If you explain to him that you aren't going that way, he starts to whine. If you do pass by the fish, he is happy to see it but then mad after it is out of sight again. He will say, "Fish! More!" and get upset if you don't distract him with something else.
Another good example is trucks on the interstate. Marin loves seeing them. He also thinks you can order up trucks anytime you want. If one passes by, he immediately starts yelling for "more" trucks. He doesn't understand that just because he wants to see more trucks that they aren't going to magically appear on demand.
On the flip side, Marin is the most loving child. He gives out hugs and kisses at random. He rubs your back if he thinks you don't feel good. If you hurt yourself he says "ouchy" and looks at you with a sad face. He is also very forgiving. If you apologize to him for anything, he always says, "O.k." and gives you a hug and a smile.
Marin is also the most polite child. He says please and thank you (unprompted most of the time). :) The things he thanks us for constantly amaze me. He will thank me for changing his diaper or helping him with his clothes. What 22 month old does that? He wipes his mouth with a napkin when he's finished eating. He will clean off his highchair tray with a paper towel. He comes up behind me when I'm down in the floor cleaning up his messes and pats me on the back. When he comes into a room that you are in, he greets you with a "hi" or a "hello" just to be nice. He's just too sweet for words sometimes.
I guess the moral of the story is to model good behavior for your kids. If you are polite to your spouse, they are watching. If you say please and thank you to others in their presence, they are listening. If you are affectionate with them, they will be affectionate with you. Teach them the skills you want them to have early. There is no reason that a 22 month old can't help clean up after lunch, help pick up their toys, etc. Yes, their "helping" may be more of hindrance sometimes and clean up will take longer, but at least they are learning responsibility.
I know that his 2 year old tantrums are just a phase and that he will eventually grow out of screaming in restaurants and crying over the least little grievance. We will look back on this and laugh someday. In the meantime, his sweet hugs and kisses will have to get us through.
