I'm going to be honest here. Today was a hard day. At least this morning was. At 8:20 am I had already called Erik on the verge of tears. It's Jack. He's just so, well, I don't know how to describe it. He is so busy. He won't sit still and he is into EVERYTHING. Everyone tells me it just comes with having a boy, but I'm not sure. To say each day is trying is quite an underestimate.
I'm sure that if Lucy didn't demand (and of course deserve) most of my attention it wouldn't be such a big deal. The problem is, I think Jack deserves that much attention too. It really tears at my heart. And apparently my sanity as well. This morning I walked out of the playroom to go get Lucy a rag because she had just vomited and was seriously was gone 10 seconds at the most. This is what I walked back into:
First of all, it scared me. He could have hurt himself. Secondly, are you serious??!! Geez. I guess that's the end of the changing table. I'll have to find a place to stash diapers so that I can just change him on the floor. I felt very defeated today. BUT. Let me just say that even through my frustration and tears, I'm so very thankful to be home with him. I missed so much of his first year, I can't help but to kiss those chubby cheeks all day long. I don't want anyone to think I'm complaining, but this is my blog and I just need a place to vent.
After my little meltdown I got Jack dressed and couldn't help but to giggle with delight at how cute he looked. I mean, just look at him!
If anyone has any suggestions, or similar stories I'd be interested in hearing them. Thanks for letting me vent tonight.
my little guy is 18mo and is also busy! i feel like the only time he doesn't move is when he is strapped into something...carseat, highchair, ect... we have learned to keep things out of reach, keep all bedroom/bathroom doors closed, and give him LOTS of opportunities to climb, and run! :) the joys of a busy child!!
ReplyDeleteTarget has boxes in colors that fold up flat (When you are done using them). They are more cloth like. We kept a changing pad, some wipes, and diapers in them and stashed them in all the main rooms of the house.
ReplyDeletei like that idea. I'm thinking that I may have to clean out a closet under the stairs to store my "stuff!"
ReplyDeleteYou are right! The joys for sure.
ReplyDeleteKate,
ReplyDeleteI had two girls before we adopted our son from Guatemala. I can tell you I have felt the same way!! Boys are way busier and more demanding!!
I have been there!! It's also that age. Best solution?? A LOT of coffee and deep breaths!!!
And, what saved (s) my son??? Same thing as Jack......he is just so darn cute!!! Just know you aren't alone!!
Hmmm a boy. :P I have 2 children a sweet daughter and a real rough, tough boy. I always said I have 10 children, one very adorable girl and 9 rowdy boys, seriously that is what it felt like. Jack is 100% normal and you have all the reason in the world to vent.
ReplyDeleteI remember when my son was 16 mths old and we were outside and him and my daughter were playing on the swing set and my son fell and hit his mouth on the teeter totter and I held my breath. He never cried so I thought I won't make an issue about this and when he turned around and faced me I nearly keeled over. There was blood dripping down his chin and I saw something hanging. He never uttered a peep so I picked him up took him inside, now he was squirming because he didn't want to go inside. I cleaned him up and his tooth was what was hanging down. He broke his beautiful front tooth. I remember thinking, "oh my, what kind of pain tolerance does this child have!"
Jack is a beautiful, healthy, wild and crazy boy. Hang in there you will survive these energy filled years. :)
<><
Thanks Bobbi. It's nice to know other people have walked this road :)
ReplyDeleteI have 2 boys and a little girl. I don't have any suggestions for how to "fix" it, but I do want to say I've been/and am there. It's nice to read that I'm not the only one who feels defeated some days. My special needs child is the one who is the wild woman though. I too have trouble splitting time between my normal hearing children who don't need speech therapy all day and my deaf child with cochlear implants who needs so much language input and so much work. Thanks for being "real" and helping me to realize my meltdown on Saturday because I felt defeated wasn't completely crazy. :)
ReplyDeleteOh no! What a story. Bless his heart. There must really be something about a little boy!
ReplyDeleteIt's always nice to know you are not alone. Hang in there and I'll promise to share more of my bad days. Glad to know someone can relate.
ReplyDeleteI've been reading your blog since Lucy was diagnosed - my brother lives in Munford and he sent me the link as a prayer request. I have never posted a comment but I feel led to post after reading your last entry. Like you, I have 2 sweet girls (11 and 6) and my precious little man (8 months). He is already pulling up and starting to cruise around the furniture and he's into everything! He is so different from my girls. After seeing some of the stuff Jack gets into, I am getting very scared! I've been told that it's just how boys are. So, though I don't have an arsenal of stories - yet - I want you to know that I sympathize with you. I still pray for Lucy every day. I think I'll say an extra prayer for you tonight.
ReplyDeleteI'm a first time mom of a little boy who is 16 months old. He is into EVERYTHING. He never stops. I swear we have hit the terrible 2's already. He loves to climb up on everything. His favorite thing to do when mommy isn't in the room is to climb up on our big comfy chair and then up on it's arm and sit on mommy's closed (thank goodness) laptop. :-) We have the same issue of where to put things so he can not reach them. He wants everything he cannot have.
ReplyDeleteI'm also a Pre Kindergarten teacher. I have 20 four year old students in my AM class and 20 three year old students in my PM class and I swear it's easier taking care of them, then it is staying home with my 16 month old! I sure felt that way today- our first day of spring break.
So you are not alone!
Kelli
Kate
ReplyDeleteI know exactly how you feel. We had our sweet daughter, then our sweet son. But boy when he was about three, I called my hubby and said something is wrong with this child, he never sits down, he is into everything, and DD was not like that at all. My Hubby said that he was a boy and there was nothing wrong with him. But he kept me on my toes. But today he is 18 and senior in high school has his Eagle Scout Badge and is heading to college in the fall. He still keeps me on my toes but like you I can never be mad at him because he is so cute. Momma love their boys, and boys will always love their Mommas. Good luck, everything will be fine.
Oh where do I even start?!?! It must be a "Jack" thing! Our Jack was the SAME way at his age!! I cried many tears. I finally had to spend about a week "Jack-proofing" the house! I had to put away some pieces of furniture that he could get on and so on....
ReplyDeleteIt did help a lot. I had to get rid of some toys, etc. but it made life so much less stressful. I also put up gates and kept him away from some rooms. I even ended up putting some of our beds away and just using mattresses on the floor (because he got on the beds and fell often). I know some of this sounds extreme and crazy but it sure did eliminate a lot of stress and work...and tears! He is turning 5 in a couple of days and has calmed down a lot...and I NEVER thought he would. Ever. We couldn't even go to a store or other people's homes for a while because he would get into things and it would stress me out. He would try and exit stores as fast as he could and one time almost ended up in a street. (That is when we just started staying home)
It gets easier, I promise, he's just still little and exploring everything like our Jack did. They don't stay this busy, I promise. I never thought I'd hear myself say that!
Good luck and I'm always praying for sweet Lucy and the rest of your precious family.
In Christ, Kelley
i have 3 boys and 1 girl and let me tell you...jack is totally normal! there are some days where i just want to rip my hair out! i cannot turn my back on my 19 month old son or else i find him standing on the kitchen table throwing things. good luck - just hang on for the ride! they do calm down one day, i promise!
ReplyDeleteRead this: theb-blogs.blogspot.com
ReplyDeleteThis a blog about a 2 year old boy...written by his mom from his perspective!!! It will make you laugh til you cry and realize you are not alone!!!
I'm not a mom, but I am the older sister to three boys and have heard my mom tell COUNTLESS stories of the shenanigans that they got into at this age. I think the one that sticks out most in my mind is when my Mom (who also stayed at home) walked into the kitchen to find one of the boys sitting on top of the fridge. I kid you not. He was around 2 at the time and his twin was sitting on the kitchen counter acting as his helper.
ReplyDeleteI think it's just a boy thing. They're brave. Really brave. At every age.
Kate,
ReplyDeleteYou are not alone! I have one child, a boy, who has been moving and climbing and active since birth! At Jack's age we used gates for one room and had to put almost everything up high. I made sure to surround him, at his level, with toys. Of course, he wanted whatever was not a toy. I did clean out and leave open the cupboard with the tupperware. He'd empty and refill that often. We used magnetic locks on all the cupboards b/c he learned how to open all the other ones. Boys are very active and fearless! But, they are also the best snugglers and love to cuddle! Prayers to you, Lucy and your entire family....always.
You are not alone! I had my first boy last year (and another one on the way - someone save me!) and our Luke is into everything!!! I had two girls first and they were so much easier. We turn for two seconds and he's in the dog food, then out the dogger door putting rocks in his mouth!!! I literally will be going to the bathroom and wonder where Luke went and he's climbed the stairs and got into the girls bedroom onto their dresser!??!?!! I just don't get it. None of the girls did this!!! My middle daughter is busy but nothing like Luke. I put him to bed early because I am sooooo tired and before he learned out to slide out of his buckle in the high chair I used to put him there to keep him out of trouble!!! So it's definitely a boy thing and I think we have to let them be boys but it's so hard on us mommas :) Hang in there. You have SO much on your plate!!
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry but this post made me smile as it made me feel like someone else could relate. My daughter is almost 16 months old and I say she is an ADHD poster child. She is into everything. For months she has been climbing onto chairs then moves from there to tables. And now I find her on my kitchen counters. She has two speeds: on and off. I just have to shake my head and laugh most times although at the end of the day, I'm counting down to bedtime.
ReplyDeleteI realized life would never be the same when he arrived 3 weeks early weighing 9 lbs. (1992) I learned a few coping strategies along the way...
ReplyDeleteI suggest a happy preschool one or two days a week. (1993)
I suggest no plastic snakes...because then your child may pick up a live rattlesnake thinking it is a toy. (1996)
I suggest any sport you can find within 10 miles. (gymnastics and baseball 1997)
Sports with more running (basketball and soccer 1998)
Sport in Jr High with more running (cross country 2005)
Buy him new running shoes when he leaves for college (2011)
I am a mother of 3 little boys, each a year apart from one another. Within that first few years most of our decorative glass items had been broken, there was blue sharpie drawings on freshly painted white walls, and the list goes on and on. Growing up with only sisters, this is quite a new experience for me. My boys are now much older than Jack but I remember their business as toddlers. It's insane. They never sit still. You are not alone!
ReplyDelete(oh, and my boys always pulled all of the wipes out of the container......all the time!)
I can not believe how much he and Eli are alike. Reading your post is like reading my mind. Every day I am amazed by what kind of trouble he can find. Things I would have never imagined with Grace: we had to get locks for the toilet seats, and move the knives to the top of the refrigerator! The other day he actually did a flip, not somersault, Olympic-style flip, from the end table onto the couch. Every day I pray for two things: patience for me, and safety for him. Good luck!
ReplyDeleteSweet Kate. I know you are writing this frustrated, but I have to be honest and tell you that I giggled as I read it. I have 2 boys. And I think one hung the moon and the other lights it. But you hit it on the head here. They are frustrating at times! That little Jack certainly is a cutie! Good thing God makes them cute so we can't be angry for long! Hope Lucy is feeling better tomorrow.
ReplyDeleteBeing a mom of 4 boys (ALL SO VERY different too), I completely understand you. One boy in particular is quite the little wild child, well a little frustrating at times ;) I wish I can say "he will grow out of it".... BUT he wont!! HA HA HA! There are days that I feel SO very defeated, but I KNOW you know you are the mom that God picked for this little one, so breathe you are doing just wonderful!! And from reading your blog, you have helped me to be more patient.... Thank you for sharing your life with me.
ReplyDeleteThankfully I had my boy first. So when my sweet, quiet, gentle girl came along I marvelled at the ease of rearing a girl (maybe I won't say that when she is 13??). In fact I took her to the doctor because I thought there was something wrong with how placid she was. Chin up I can remember those days (not so) fondly.
ReplyDeleteI hate to say....it's not part of having a boy...it's just his personality. Try to enjoy. And yes, you will have to rearrange things. I have 5 kids. My fifth is doing things the others have NEVER done. It just IS. Hang in there!
ReplyDeleteJack sounds soooo much like my younger son, now 6 (almost 7). My older boy was pretty good, gentle, good sleeper. Josh - crawled at 5mos and sat at 6 - so never sat and played. Walked at 9 mos. STILL won;t sit through a whole movie. Hits his brother "cause he is there" when he gets bored.
ReplyDeleteHe got into everything and nearly sent me insane..but he is cute. So cute. Looks like a Botticelli angel. I think I know why.....
Hugs for you - you inspire me :)
Nicole
xxxxx
I have two boys :-) I kinda giggled as I looked at the photos because I've been there! He's at that age where he just wants to explore! Don't worry though, in just a few months he'll be done with the wipes and onto something else! They can learn not to touch things (of course) but sometimes, things like wipes, markers, glue are better just put up. It saves your sanity HA!
ReplyDeleteI have two stories to share and I will tell you right now they are some of my favorite. The first is of Reagan. She was about 2. Beacause our playroom was upstairs we had a few things in her room- blocks, a few "babies", dress up clothes, tons of books and a kitchen playset. I had just taken her out of the bath and changed her into a new gown. I left her in the room to play a minute while I went to put the wet towel into the wash. Ok, maybe I was gone longer than just a minute because when I returned... oh my. Reagan found the baby powder (IN a drawer) and decided that she liked shaking it to make it "snow". When I say snow, I men it literally covered EVERYTHING- the bed, the crib, the dressors, the toys, the books, her clothes, the carpet- it was even on her curtains and window blinds. Not to mention all over herself- her clean hair and new gown. I couldn't help but to laugh. I mean what else was I going to do? I took pictures of course, then let her help me clean it up... after we made snow angels in the floor! :)
ReplyDeleteThe second is of Knox. Ok, I actually have lots of "oh my's " with Knox, like finding him in the dryer, on top of the microwave, under my pile of freshly folded clothes, and even outside- by himself at a year and a half. I now find him high in trees, or in the top of our various closets and, yes, he still likes dryers. But the one story I am going to share is very similar to Reagan's. Same scenerio- fresh out of the tub but not dressed yet. The phone rang so I left him in his room to answer it. When I returned he found VASELINE! A whole jar of Valseine! Not the little tiny jar. The ultra mega size you get from Sam's. Head to toe, furniture, carpet, toys, windows- you name it- covered in a nice thick coating. No snow angels this time, just laughs and lots of cleaning. Terry Turner once described Knox as being "wide open witht the choke off" and she is right. But, I wouldn't trade my Lil Changuito for anything!
Try to rememeber he is simply exploring his world. Figuring it out. Seeing how things work, and learning cause and effect. :) As exhausting as it may be, it is a necessary part of growing up.
Love and miss you guys terribly!
Jenn
I have three girls and my youngest turned 2 in December. Just recently she has become a little terror:) She will destroy a room, break dvds and throw the biggest fits I've ever seen. She has me on my toes and I try not to leave her for a minute, but I have to take care of the house and the other two girls (age 7 and 9). Her behavior gets worse if she is tired, but she refuses to nap. She can also be super sweet, loving and cooperative too. I feel overwhelmed when I have to do things (like grocery shop) and she decides to pull her terror tricks on me. I don't want to rush her getting older, but I will be so thankful if and when she passes this "stage" in her little life:) So I don't think it's a gender behavior...just a personality of some toddlers:)
ReplyDeleteOh, yes! That's just a boy for you. I have 3 boys that were born 2 years apart from each other. I left the oldest alone to tend to the 2nd one day & came back to find him up on the changing table, laying in a pile of baby powder. There was a thick layer all over him, the changing table, the wall... It was everywhere! My first thought was how he could've hurt himself up there, but my second thought was that no one would believe it unless I took a picture right then! Haha!!
ReplyDeleteKate,
ReplyDeleteYou are obviously not alone. Believe it or not, you will want these days back. Our boys are 28 and 25. I found our oldest on top of the refrigerator eating the bananas that I had put out of reach. It's like they are ninja's! How are they sooo fast?!! This is the time of your life when you have to have him attached to your hip our you never know what you will find.
As much as you don't want to, put things up and out of reach, for your sanity. It's a curious stage. Hopefully, the business of it will settle down but hopefully not his curiosity.
Hang in there, it does get better!
JACK IS JUST ABOUT THE YUMMIEST LITTLE BOY!!!!! AND I KNOW YUMMY AFTER 2 BOYS OF MY OWN AND 5 GRANDSONS.....WAS TOO FRETFUL AND NERVOUS MY SONS WOULD GET HURT AND WOULD BE WITH THE GRANDS....BUT THEIR MOMS JUST SEEM TO LET THEM GO AND LET GOD TAKE CARE OF THE REST.....WE HAVE SEEN THEM AT ALMOST @ THE TOP OF TREES, DOING DOUBLE BACK FLIPS IN THE POOL, RIDING AT TOP SPEED ON THEIR BIKES, CLIMBING DOOR FRAMES, LEAPING TALL BUILDINGS.....AND STILL IN ONE PIECE!!!! .....SO FAR....!LOVE A BOY-BOY.....THERE IS SOMETHING ABOUT THEIR FEARLESSNESS THAT DEMANDS RESPECT, CAUSES ONE TO STAY ON THEIR HEART-KNEES, AND DELIGHT IN THEIR TORN JEANS AND DIRTY HANDS! AS FAR AS ADVICE.....PUT AWAY ALL SHARP KNIVES, ANYTHING THAT CAN BE SHARPENED AND ANYTHING THAT CAN BE CLIMBED ON UNTIL ABOUT THE AGE OF THREE!!!.....AND EVEN THEN KEEP THOSE KNIVES OUT OF REACH!! ...(oh where is a smiley face when you need one!!)
ReplyDeleteOur daughter was 4lbs born at 35wks. She has physical and intellectual disabilities.
ReplyDeleteThree years later, our son was 8lbs born at 37wks. And as our daughter was an IVF miracle, our son was a HUGE surprise as no IVF was involved.
He didn't sleep. His record was waking up 7 times in 8 hours one night. I sat and cried and wondered how I would cope with therapy for my daughter and juggling a non-sleeping hyperactive little guy.
My husband had the answer. He threw our budget out the window and hired a lady for one month. 'Until things get back to normal' he said. Nearly six years on, we still have help to juggle our daughter and her multiple therapies. And our son was recently diagnosed with hyperactivity and a mild Autism Spectrum disorder. Without the help we have had over the years, I have no idea how I would have coped. Or even whether our litle guy would be here.
He was 9 months old. He was supposed to be sleeping. But he wasn't so he was playing in his cot. My daughter was at her therapy and I was home catching up on domestic stuff. And I heard a noise. And I listened and I heard more unusual noises. So i went to investigate. Our 9 month old, allegedly still immobile son, had somehow pulled himself up in his cot, climbed onto the top rail of it....and pushed his bedroom flyscreen out. Of his nursery....on the second floor. And was leaning out the open window when I walked in. A split second later and I will forever wonder would our son have fallen out his window??
Every Mum does their best. Every Mum never feels like she is not doing well enough. Take heart, you are doing a WONDERFUL job. And boys are just SO different to girls. And in our case, particularly a little girl who hardly moved for the first few years of her life.
God Bless you and your family.
I'm laughing at little Jack, and at these other stories. I can especially relate to the one person who said she had her wild boy first, then her calm girl. My boy was wild even before he was born. So much so that when I got pregnant with my daughter I was constantly asking the doctor "are you sure this baby is okay? it never moves!" And he'd always put his sonogram thing on and we'd see her moving calmly.
ReplyDeleteWhen I took my son to the pediatrician for that very first checkup, maybe four days old?....anyway, he was there on the baby examining table (the one with the little lip around the edge so the baby wouldn't roll off) and the doctor looked at me and said "you're going to have to watch this one very carefully." I had no idea what she meant since he was my first. oh my, did I learn!
His favorite thing to do at the playground was to climb waaaaaaaaaaay up to the top of the big kid climbing thing. Of course I had to go up after him which was delightful. Not.
Preschool saved my sanity. He went for two mornings a week when he was almost 3 (late birthday).
In kindergarten his grade was really boy-heavy. His class had 16 boys and 4 girls. Seriously. They had so few girls that they spread them out evenly among the classes, because I guess no teacher wanted all boys. Personally I'm not sure how much different 20 boys would have been from 16 boys! We prayed for that teacher every day.
He played soccer from K-6th, basketball from 3rd-12th, football from 9th-12th, rowed crew for three of those years in the football off-season, and tried lacrosse for two seasons. Whoever thought it was a good idea to give a bunch of boys long sticks and tell them to run after each other???! oy...
Anyway, Jack sounds totally normal to me, and it will be SO much more difficult for you because of Lucy.
You all are in my prayers every day.
Oh and p.s., Jack has got to be the cutest little boy I've seen in awhile (except for my ds, of course). :)) LOVE his curls, and I love those one-piece outfits. :)
Although I would never say that I could relate to anything you have experienced with sweet Lucy, I feel like I can relate in the area of your sweet Jack. However, mine is my sweet 2 year old daughter that we adopted from China last year. She is our fourth and we had another daughter and two sons so i felt like I had experienced everything a toddler can bring, until she came. I so often feel defeated as she climbs on everything, breaks her sibling things, plays in the toilet...basically you name it and she has done it. so many days she brings actual tears to my eyes. I love her more than words, however I have never felt so challenged. I home school our other 3 and so this has added a whole new level of h.a.r.d! For me the biggest challenge is knowing that she spent the first year in an orphanage and I should be embracing everything, but when your are living with an extremely active toddler focusing on the positive is simply hard! Praying for your sanity and yes you have every right to vent!!
ReplyDeleteKate, Rest assured, he's as normal as he can be. I had two boys and they are just naturally that way! My brother had 2 girls and then a boy, like you. They had their son tested for ADD because he was so much more hyper than the girls! Put everything out of his reach, strap on and enjoy the ride!
ReplyDeletemy youngest daughter was a climber..she was out of the baby bed (mattress on lowest setting) as soon as she could pull up to a stand..she climbed on everything..scary..it's not just a boy thing..put her in gymnastics to work off that energy in a safe environment
ReplyDeleteYou are definitely not alone!!!! I have a VERY defiant almost 4 year old little girl. She is different from every child I've ever been around and I honestly don't know how to handle her. She's mean, she's rude, she's obnoxious, she's a terror, but she's also the sweetest child I've ever met - if that even makes any sense. She tests me every single day and I can't help but love her because she is so determined in what she does. I also have the same guilt that you have because I feel I should be ever so grateful for even the worst of days considering I buried her 5 year old brother almost 29 months ago, but I've slowly started accepting the fact that I can't treat my girls differently because their brother isn't here anymore.
ReplyDeleteI'll be praying for your strength to care for a wild little boy as well as your heart as you forgive yourself for having to divide your time unequally right now. Big (((HUGS)))!!!
Dear Kate,
ReplyDeleteBoys are very different from girls! I don't know how to explain it. It's like it's instinct for them to climb and run and take things apart. I have four boys and believe me, I could sit here all day telling you stories! When my oldest three were little, I called them the brain, the muscle and the tag along because that's exactly what they were! Caleb came up with the plan, Skyler carried it out and Kristian was just along for the ride. There were definitely days that I wanted to pull my hair out. Cherish and encourage his curiosity and find him positive, safe ways to get that energy out.
I giggled when I read your post! I was an only child girl whose first child was a sweet, dainty little girl. And then, God gave us our son.....WOW - what a surprise.....I lost down to 92 lbs when he first started his "attack on the world"! While it is totally normal.....it is a shock.....Just continue to be the wonderful Mom you and and 'this too shall pass"! Good Luck!!!
ReplyDeleteOh how I can so relate to this! My 3rd child is a boy too and I'll just name a few things I walked into during his 1s and 2s...he would dump a whole box of cereal all over the floor; I caught him digging in the toilet once (my elder son hasn't flushed). He was climbing on the kitchen table before he could walk. He has twice pulled a dozen eggs out of the fridge and dumped them on the floor. He has put a small sees up his nose. He climbs on everything! I could go on. I can just sit there and watch his little mind sometimes just think of things my other 2 didn't. There will be spells it gets better...and there may be times it gets bad again. But I will say his little personality is priceless. There are days he frustrates me to no end but I wouldn't change a thing about him. It is encouraging to know someone else knows how you feel! Hope this helps and doesn't scare you too much! :)
ReplyDeleteLook up the blog "16 balls in the air"....2 mom's 8 boys between them....I have 3 sons myself. The best thing you can do is laugh....and high your breakables, and get him outside as much as humanly possible. (double secret trick) Cardboard box. A large one. Just leave it in the room, when you have to step out. Guaranteed to occupy him.
ReplyDeleteOh can I relate!!! And it isn't a boy thing. Just some boys ;o). My son wasn't any different than my three daughters really. I babysit a 20 month old boy. Busy is an understatement. I literally can do nothing but sit and stare at him all day. If I attempt anything, he is into something. Yesterday I thought I'd attempt to do the dishes...dog food all over the floor. God forbid I have to go to the bathroom lol! He is constant motion, constantly into everything. But just like your little guy, totally adorable so totally worth all the effort of trying to keep him safe on a daily basis!!!! It has to get better right!?
ReplyDeleteOh, little boys! I love my Sam. He is now 14. He used to disappear in a heart beat - causing my heart to stop. I learned then to not look in or under things - to look up. I will never forget when somehow he got his little three year old head stuck in the milk cooler at the grocery store, or when he got stuck behind the coke machine at Freds.
ReplyDeleteI was so used to baby dolls, Barbies, hair brushes. When this little boy came - I learned that army men, dirt and rocks were a wonderful part of life. One day I came home and found that he had literally ran his train set over some army men - taking off heads and limbs. Being a single mom at that time - with no men around - I immediately called our pastor - thinking that I have a potential serial killer....he died laughing. He said..."Becky, he is a boy! Let him be a boy." That was hard considering he was in a house full of females! A wise wise lady at church told me once after another little boy incident - said "Becky this little boy today will be a firefighter, a soldier, a police officer of tomorrow. He will be a protector. He will be sensitive to women." And she was right.
My precious little curly haired boy is growing - his hand covers mine - he is so strong - playing football and was saved last night. And that wise lady was right - he is protective, he wants to be a Marine....
Its not ALL boys ... but they are all different. I had very calm baby boy ... then 4 years later God provided us with a "normal" baby boy. My youngest was into everything from the very beginning. He taught my 4 year old how to climb! The youngest loved anything that was a challenge. If I put the scissors on top of the refrigerator, he climbed the cabinets to get them ... then jumped down with them in his hand! Sharpy markers ... the higher/better I hid them, the more challenge he found in getting to them! Brand new shampoo bottles poured out in tub ... pocket knives at preschool ... he has had stitches 3 times (once on a road trip and another on Thanksgiving afternoon) ... broken his "permanent" front tooth (on Christmas Day) ... you name it, he has experienced it! We had outlet covers in the empty outlets ... so he found the scissors and decided to cut a lamp cord that was plugged in AND turned on! After a huge boom and flash, we found him behind the recliner looking very "sweet", but curious! Luckily he was fine, but he evidently learned his electrical boundaries the hard way! Thank you God for protecting my precious "normal" baby boy! Today, at 10 years old, he just lives in his "world" and I have found that the less I limit him, the better we seem to get along. Just remember, God never leads you to anything that he will not get you through! Bless you ... and these days will always be a cherished time in your life! You are an amazing mom and Christian! =)
ReplyDeleteOh, Kate... how I can totally understand. Just last Friday, I called my husband, trying so hard not to cry, as I sought a little sympathy from him regarding our 23 month old. As I explained my frustration, the tears began to flow... I'm not sure about Jack, but our Emmitt is like "I take 3 steps forward, 2 steps back". I can't do anything without him making a bigger mess. It's so exhausting.
ReplyDeleteLater that night, I thanked my husband for his encouragement. He began to laugh and told me how hard it was to keep a straight face on the phone. :) He said I sounded so pitiful over an almost 2-year-old. He also reminded me that this was simply "a season". And how God tells us of seasons and that this will pass, just as other difficult stages have passed. He's right, and I am thankful for "seasons". Encouragement... that's what our spouses are for... through all seasons. I am sure Eric had kind words of the sort for you, too. :)
Hang in there, sister; you're doing a great job! Thank you for sharing your family; we all love you... I'm sorry Lucy was vomiting, and hope she is better today.
Praying for Lucy and your sweet family.
Happy Easter week!
xxx
Selena
Oh Kate! I can just laugh AND cry at this post! I have 2 boys (13 and almost 10)...I remember the exasperation and exhaustion, but looking back & can laugh, because God helped me through all of the climbing, sticking things in electric outlets (after proudly removing the protective cover), pulling things out of cabinets, draing on the wall, getting back into the tub with big brother after gettting diapered & dressed, scraps, bumps, falls, stitches, and one near drowning incident. The one bit of advice I can give you is to hide 2 Corinthians 12:9 in your heart..."My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." When you feel like you are at the end of your rope, just remember Who holds that rope...His hand hold you too : )
ReplyDeleteHi, Kate.
ReplyDeleteI also have an 18 month old (girl) and she has an almost 5 y.o. brother. She is very much into anything and everything..has to try to climb up the three-story playhouse in the backyard with her brother and flies off on her tummy down the slide. My oldest has a loft bed and now I'm realizing that ladder is my new fear for her since she loves to climb! You've mentioned before Jack likes to be outside, and so does my little girl. She almost slows down to first gear when we walk around the neighborhood because there is so much to see (but off course she has to pull or push her wagon instead of ride:). So getting her outside in the mornings is the newest part of our routine. You definitely have your hands full with Jack and Lucy. I'm sure they love having each other, and it's neat they get to have that unique time together. My oldest recently fell down and all he wanted was to hold his little sister because it made him feel better. This is my first experience with having two kids and that part is soo sweet! Good for you for venting.. this IS your blog, and I'm all for communicating to vent and express how you feel. If you're like me, you NEED to do it to feel better:)
Jack is so very cute, and he seems really inquisitive and smart. I know it's a challenge to keep them entertained. :)
Oh, I started drinking coffee.. never have much before, but that helps..especially around 4pm!
God Bless you and your family!
Erica
My son Benjamin is 16 months old! I know exactly how you feel! While reading your post I was like "oh good, at least my son is not the only one who makes his mommy cry!" I am waiting for the day we have to go to the emergency room. I pray it never happens but I feel it is bound to happen when you climb on everything and run everywhere! My house is never clean because we have something from the bathroom in the kitchen, toys in our bedroom and just stuff everywhere! I think that is what gets me the most! My daughter would just sit and play with toys but not Ben! Praying for your family and Lucy!
ReplyDeleteI stay home with my 3 boys under 7 & have MANY days when I'm on the verge of a breakdown before 9am! My older 2 were very active/busy/curious little boys that gave me my fair share of scares, but my youngest (17 months old) takes the cake. My oldest is special needs, so I also understand what it feels like to be pulled in different directions all day long. My youngest is busier than my other 2 were at this age combined! His newest trick is also climbing-on or over everything & he has figured out how to open doors so no room is safe! He can even climb over the baby gates we have on both sets of stairs! I am finding that the less I try to restrict him, the happier he is...if there's not a gate on the stairs, he ignores them. If the door to the bathroom is open, he walks right on past. My husband says it's a boy thing that I will never understand :) I just keep telling myself that my days will not always be like this...good luck!
ReplyDeleteHave you thought of getting a sling ring or other type of sling for Jack? I am 15 and babysit for a family of 4, a girl Jacks age,a 4 year old, 6 year old, and 7 year old... I started using the sling my mom used on me and it is a godsend because I can have the baby in there and attend to the other childrens' needs. She is very active but will sit still in the sling and just "hang"... Maybe that would work for you?
ReplyDeleteIn an earlier post I mentioned "buying him new running shoes for college" and should have told this funny story:
ReplyDeleteHe attends the same college as his older sister. (who was calmer as a child ; ) Not too long ago, she and a friend were sipping coffee in the student center on a cold, rainy day. She noticed a girl outside jogging and said to her friend, "You'd have to be a nut to be out running today." One minute later, her friend pointed to another runner and said, "Isn't that your brother?"
Praying fun "grown-up sibling" stories for your precious three!!
Have you thought of getting a sling ring or other type of sling for Jack? I am 15 and babysit for a family of 4, a girl Jacks age,a 4 year old, 6 year old, and 7 year old... I started using the sling my mom used on me and it is a godsend because I can have the baby in there and attend to the other childrens' needs. She is very active but will sit still in the sling and just "hang"... Maybe that would work for you?
ReplyDeleteWe have a nearly 3 year old boy. He is BUSY!!! He can drive me insane. We have an 8 month old little girl who has been in the icu for 8 weeks now and when I am home I am trying SO hard to enjoy our healthy son. I feel guilty when he frustrates me and I have to remember that it is just part of parenting. Jack loves you so and loves any form of attention :) boys are just something else!!!
ReplyDeleteif you check out kennyanderin.blogspot.com they have a son that just turned 2 and is going through the same stage. She also has 2 older girls, so i'm sure you two could relate!
ReplyDeleteI have two boys and a baby girl. I'm just waiting to experience the calm that everyone claims comes with a girl :) My younger son is 2 and he can destroy anything in seconds. I can't tell you how many boxes of wipes we've gone through as he's taken them out and decorated a whole room with them! Most recently he flushed his brothers brand new hot wheels car down the toilet (and some other things too I suspect) and we are currently waiting for the plumber to get our bathroom working again. They are certainly a challenge, but it makes the little moments of calm and snuggling with them so special. I'm waiting to see if my daughter grows up learning chaos from her brothers or gives me a break like everyone says girls do. Much love to you all as you discover the "normalcy" of boy behavior.
ReplyDeleteHe's all boy! My 10 yr old started walking at 7 months and required two gates in the bedroom doorway to stay contained. He started gymnastics at 2. He is now a competitive gymnast and spends all spring/summer playing baseball. My daughter is five and still can't/won't climb up on the counter tops in the kitchen. Her brother figured out all the good snacks were in the top cupboards and how to get them at 3. He still makes me crazy with all his energy but, properly channeled, it will serve him well in the future.
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad you got so many comments reiterating the "joys of boys"! I am mommy to three little boys, and they are ALL very active, very loud, very busy, and -last but not least- very in-to-everything! You're doing great. Hang in there, and enjoy the ride! Check out the blog "Marathon Mom" by a mom to...wait for it...*8* boys! It will make you feel awesome! :) God's Blessings upon you and your sweet family! -From the Loorz Family in California
ReplyDeleteWhat you are feeling is completely normal! I have 2 boys who are 23 months apart. There were many days I would cry from pure exhaustion--and my poor husband got more crazy phone calls from me than I care to mention (and unfortunately is still receiving them). I found my second little one in the middle of the kitchen table before he was even really able to crawl well! He figured out how to climb though! Taking the time to soak in the sweetness is key!! They may be active, they take all your energy but oh the sweetness is overwhelming!! Glad you are taking the time to enjoy all of him (& your precious girls, too!)
ReplyDeleteCallie is known to be into everything, too! Maybe it's the 3rd child?! haha! Here are two funny posts about Callie & her "messes"... http://www.thefreemanfam4.blogspot.com/2011/05/dirty-girl.html & http://www.thefreemanfam4.blogspot.com/2011/04/what-ham.html . I took a picture, too, recently of what she did to the kitchen :) I'll try to email it to you. Yes, shock to frustration to scared to so funny... these little ones put your emotions in all 4 places (& then some) all at once! :)
ReplyDeleteAs the proud mom of 3 now grown up whirling dervishes - 2 boys and a girl- I can tell you to laugh at the chaos, take pictures of their creativity, hire the occasional mother's helper and just enjoy! It is hard to remember to see the humor in the many ways they create messes but remember they will be grown up one day and have children of their own. And then, you can REALLY have a laugh when their "little jack" gets into mischief. I figure that God had a big sense of humor and always had a knack for showing me the sunny side.
ReplyDeleteI am laughing because that smock looks pink...and honestly his waves make him look like a girl
ReplyDeleteand I am thinking payback is a b****
I just read this morning about a busy little almost 2 year old boy that was found dead in the washing machine water. :( Watch your little bundle of energy closely!
ReplyDeleteI have a son a couple of months older than Jack, and I think they should play together because they seem to have the same energy level! Logan climbs on EVERYTHING, too, and he hasn't found a package of wipes, wet ones, etc. that he hasn't tried to empty yet. Logan even climbed out of his baby bed at 15 months (hitting his head no less) and we had to move to a toddler bed AT 15 MONTHS! He is my first so I have no comparison, but my opinion is boys are just wild! But, they are so sweet too and I'm sure Jack loves his Mama just like Logan does. Hang in there- that is what I am trying to do! One day they will calm down- at least that is what I am holding out hope for :)
ReplyDeleteBy the way, I LOVE the bubble. I put Logan is bubbles all the time! One day all they will wear is grown up boys clothes (polos or button ups), so I think they should wear bubbles and john johns when they are little :)
ReplyDeleteThat you took the time to take such gorgeous pictures tells me even in your venting and concern, you are really handling everything sooooo amazingly well that I feel guilty when I lose my patience! You have beautiful children, and while active can be trying, it is really a sign that they are loved!
ReplyDeleteI have read your blog for months, but this is the first time I have commented.
ReplyDeleteI have a little boy that will be 2 in two weeks. This child wakes up ready to run, jump, destroy, tackle, and scream! He is exhausting from the time he wakes up until he goes to bed! I clean up at night after he is in bed. My husband finally told me the other day as I was cleaning the playroom that I must clean for the magical fairies that come to our house in the middle of the night because the minute my son wakes up, it will be destroyed again! No one sees my house clean! :)
But it makes the times that he actually does sit still and let me love on him so much sweeter.
Know that I am praying for you all - and have been. We are cheering Lucy on!!
You go ahead and vent if you have too. Boys are so different from girls. Everyone told me that when we adopted our son. Our daughter was so easy and never got into anything, Michael on the other hand was a diffferent story. Once when he was 18 months old I was washing dishes and he was standing right next to me. I turned to answer the phone and when I looked back he was standing in the middle of the dining room table laughing and trying to pull the chain on the ceiling fan. Gotta love those boys. Good luck and your family is beautiful, Lucy looks like she has put on a little weight, so happy to see her smiling in the pictures. I love reading your blog.
ReplyDeleteHey Kate! Boys definitely require more physical labor, don't they :) It does get better but I try to laugh when I really want to cry.....or a just call Neal screaming :) Hang in there....they are so much fun though!!
ReplyDeleteMy son is 18 months older than my daughter. He was in a toddler bed and she was still in her crib, the day we decided the crib HAD to come down. Thank you Jesus for sending my husband into Allie's nursery at the right time. John witnessed Allie standing on a toy drum in her crib. Travis was standing on an upside down container. His arms were around her waist as he attempted to pull her out of her crib!!! I cannot fathom the injuries had he been successful. The other story is when Allie came tearing into our room because Travis was going to repel off the second story balcony to retrieve a toy. When I raced to his side, he had wrapped a robe rope around his waist and the sliding glass door was open. He is almost 13 years old now. He SWEARS that he wasn't going to repel from the balcony. We will never know. YES! Boys are a great handful and I am sure Travis took a few seconds off my life!! Hang in there. These events seem like a blink ago and there are days I wish I could go back, even for a brief moment.
ReplyDeleteCindy in San Diego
I have 2 boys and a girl boys r oldest and 16 months apart ages 4 and 2 our girl is 14 months I totally understand how u feel! I'm sure his curiousity and busineness will get better soon! Remember he's not that little for long! I try to tell myself that daily! Hope yall r well and little Lucy continues to stay well and strong! Prayers for yall !
ReplyDeleteThe brooks nolensville tn
My 24 month old set the fire alarm off in CVS. Pulled it..and non of the workers knew how to turn it off. Baby boys..they keep ya on your toes:)
ReplyDeleteMy sweet 2.5 year old son gives me a run for my money everyday! He climbs on everything, is in to everything and can get himself into the most interesting situations in about 2 seconds flat! Some days I find myself almost in tears and it isn't even 10 am...boys will be boys I guess!!!
ReplyDeleteA STORY:
ReplyDeleteMy mom still stands as the single most patient woman of all time. She worked full time nights as a nurse and then came home to take care of her children during the day. Since my parents had 6 of us, the running joke was that my mother didn't sleep for 20 years. In all that time, we never saw her lose her cool or yell or anything- she just calmly went about solving every problem as it came up. Then my little brother was born! He was actually #5 of 6 and he could throw world class temper tantrums and was way too smart for his own good. One morning my mom had just gotten home from work and was going about preparing breakfast for the kids and getting lunches ready for the 4 of us older kids to take to school and my (then) 4 year old brother decided he wanted a coca-cola. My parents had rules about when we could drink soda and 8am was not the right time. My brother didn't like that he was denied and proceeded to lay across the kitchen floor literally kicking and screaming and pounding the floor with his little fists. My mom had her back to him as she was facing the sink and she just quietly and calmly, turned around and dumped a 2 gallon jug of water on him and simply said "cool off." Then she turned back around and went back about her business. My little brother was so shocked he stopped his fit, immediately. It's a classic moment in our family history. My brother continued to try my parents patience throughout his childhood, but he NEVER messed with my mom in the mornings again! :)
P.S. My little brother now teaches religion at a Catholic High School.
Hi Kate..... I am a grandmother now but reliving all of this as I watch my 4 "grands" grow. I have 2 grandaughters and 2 grandsons and there is a world of difference in the 2. I just had to chuckle when I read your post and saw the pictures. That Jack is the cutest thing and he is completely normal! Enjoy this time however hectic it is. It will not last long! The most important part of it all is that Jack is sure making some great memories! I will have to tell you my "grandmother" experience with my 3 yr old grandson( then 2). My daughter was not having much luck in the potty training area so she asked me to keep him and see what I could do. Well, I was ready for this. I bought him his own little potty but Brayden was too fat for it. It kept sticking to his bottom when he got up so I went the route of sitting him on the big potty backwards. He did OK except he liked putting his hand down in the water. Well, not being prepared, I had to run into the bedroom to get a pull up. I was gone for 2 secs! I came back to him standing...both feet.. and squatting down in the commode with one hand down in it and trying his best to get the other one in it too! I thought I would never get him out! It was the funniest sight I have ever seen. Needless to say, I gave the potty training job back to his Mom! He sure made a good memory! Have a great day and hang in there
ReplyDeleteMy dd (on purpose) dumped a half gallon of soy milk on the carpet right before we had a realtor coming with clients for a showing. She opened the oven (it was off don't panic) and climbed on the door to reach the counter. Then stood on the counter to reach the top of the fridge where she saw I put some pictures she wanted. The bad part was she breaks out in hives from touching milk products and there was a bit of butter on the counter. She was covered in hives from head to toe. What a mess! (We still made it playgroup that morning though, I needed it).
ReplyDeleteWe have 2 sons, ages 24 and 21 now. Kate, I'd need days and days to enlighten you !!!! Oldest has stitches twice b4 age 3, ran all the time & fell alot. Younger guy was a climber, scaled a desk one day and toppled it over on himself. No injuries. Both were quick, always into something. Had to watch them comstantly and both were on the move 24/7. My Dad was quite the guy as well, he felt bad for children in an orphanage years back and somehow opened a gate and took them all home. He'd be 92 now, so this is a legend in our family. He also jumped out a third story window in his Catholic hs and was expelled ! My guys are great now, one is finishing student teaching, the other is in ollege for Criminal Justice. Hang in there ! God bless all of you !
ReplyDeleteWell, I can laugh because I can relate to having a curious little climber : ) Except mine is my 3 yr old girl!! She is just like Jack . . . turn my head for a moment and she is climbing on/in something. I have caught her IN our armoire, in the kitchen sink, standing on the kitchen counter eating the secret stash of M&Ms, and hiding in her room w/ the box of wipes . . . wipes of course strewn around the room. We even hid the wipes in the top dresser drawer of a pretty tall dresser. She learned to open the bottom drawer and climb in to reach the top drawer and get her wipes. Like Jack, she keeps me on my toes! Luckily my two other girls did not get the climbing gene!
ReplyDeleteI have to be honest, I have only one son, with two girls. And, if I could have been promised my fourth would be another boy, I would have four children, not three. My son has always been a cakewalk! He is now 17 years old, and remains as easy as pie. My girls, I love them, and wouldn't trade them for anything, however, I am glad there are only two...none of my kids were stinkers, none got into stuff. All early walkers, my son age 7 months walked. But, they just didn't get into stuff. They were smart as whips, but didn't touch breakables, rather stood and shook their little heads, 'noooo' and walked away. I am very lucky, this I know, b/c for the last 25 yrs, I have been a daycare provider, and God help me, I have had my share of very busy boys, one I have in care now. He is into EVERYTHING every second of every day, I affectionally refer to him as tornado. He is close to Jack's age, and when I read about Jack, I think of my little tornado...so precious and perfect, but so tiring. For me...not himself. He never seems to tire of climbing, dumping, throwing, breaking, hitting, pushing, shoving...his way through life. You are not alone. And I believe God blessed me with three easy children, so I might deal with other ones with more grace. :) Hang in there, he will be all grown up and you will miss these crazy days, I can promise you that! My oldest is 20, then my 17 yr old, and a 9 yr old...thank goodness for surprises! I don't know what I would do without our caboose! :)
ReplyDeleteFirst of all, I don't think it is just being a boy. My son is 3 years older than my 1st daughter. She taught him to do so many things he never would have thought to do. She led the way when they climbed on the end tables and jumped onto the couch like it was a swimming pool. She would also climb over or under anything I used to try to keep her in a room. When she was potty training, she was running around with no pants on. She came to get me to show me she had pooped in the cat's litter box. Just the other day (she is 5 now) I found a stool (one you sit on) on top of the bathroom step stool in her closet. She was trying to get to something up high. When one wasn't enough, she just used two. She is certainly my crazy and challenging one. But, she is also the one who prays for Lucy every night. She tells other people about her and about cancer. I figure if I can get her through her early years, she is destined for great things. And, by the way she is as cute as can be. People tell me all the time how beautiful she is. I always tell then she has to be cute to make up for all the mischief she creates.
ReplyDeleteOh yeah...I have moments like these too! Just today my children (3 1/2 and 21 months) told me my kitchen was dirty and they were cleaning it. Soooo, what does this mean? It means they had found the salt shaker and had dumped salt from one end of my house to the other and were "sweeping" it up...aka spreading those slippery and crunchy grains of salt all over my house. Where was I? In the bathroom. Can't even do THAT these days, ya know?
ReplyDeleteI have two boys that are 3 and almost 2. One thing helped me survive is when they take naps. Gymnastics is a great outlet for the boys to be creative and climb. I'm still new at being a mom of two boys but I love every minute of it. Yes I do get frustrated at times when they really destroy the room when I turn back for a second. Jack is so adorable!
ReplyDeleteHAHA! I don't have any children myself but I work at a daycare and I can advocate that little boys ARE in fact more rambunctious than little girls. To be fair I think that little girls are sneakier though. But we love 'em all the same! One day you will look back and miss this time (messes and all!)
ReplyDeleteI have always bragged about how God knew I needed an easy baby because our Lilly was the perfect child for us. We adopted her from China at 6 months old. She was so easy going, rarely sick, no sleep problems, bonded quickly, and pure joy!
ReplyDeleteOne day when she was about 2 1/2, I was sitting on the potty and I was home alone with her, she toddled through the kitchen to find me in the bathroom. I heard her coming and hollered to tell her where I was. Imagine my surprise when she came around the corner carrying the biggest kitchen knife we own.
Oops!
My kiddos are only 11 months apart and are very healthy but we still end up in the same predicament EVERY. SINGLE. DAY! No matter how quick we are (or hope to be) they are curious little monkeys that find all kinds of things to explore while we are tending to the other or daily tasks. We, too, got rid of the changing table and just change them on the floor now but they've now come up with a new fun way to get into things. The stools they stand on in the bathroom when they brush their teeth. They've figured out that they're not bolted to the floor and just yesterday my 16 mo old climbed up on the oven drawer (even though it was closed) and tried to reach the sheet of cookies she was eyeing. I guess what I'm saying is if you have more than one child it's nearly a requirement to feel pulled in too many directions at once. Heck, what am I talking about. Even if you have just ONE child that's the way it goes! Keep your chin up Hun. You're a wonderful Mama and you'll look back at these days when your kids are grown and smile at how crazy, chaotic and wonderful it was....even though you (and I) want to pull your hair out now.
ReplyDeleteWhen my daughter was Jack's age, my husband and sons were at their first NFL game, so she was "helping" me bake Christmas cookies. I ran to the restroom really quick and when I came out, she had dumped the entire thing of flour on the floor. She thought it was great and kept saying, "no no no." She thought she had made snow! Oh the mess that was! She was covered. The whole time I cleaned it up, she stood their crying "my no!!" It was so sad and funny all at the same time.
ReplyDeleteWe also had two daughters before our son was born. The girls were so easy that I was completely unprepared for life with a little boy. I could always anticipate what the girls might get into, but NEVER seemed to be prepared for what Matt was going to do next! When he was about 4 or 5, we got him a miniature tool set for his birthday, which he used to remove the door plates from just about every room in the house, and once when he was sent to his room for a time out, even removed the hinges from his bedroom door! Then there was the time he pulled the fire alarm in our new church building (the day of our first service there), which unfortunately was so new the fire dept didn't have the codes yet to turn it off, and the church had to be evacuated. He has spent many hours terrorizing his sisters and knows just what pushes their buttons. For years I was sure that if he had been born first, he'd have been an only child ;o) He was responsible for some of my most trying moments of motherhood, but he has grown into a young man who brings me so much joy. He is about to graduate from high school next month, and still insists I wake him up before I leave for work so he can give me a hug and kiss before I leave (although these days I have to stand on my tip toes to reach his cheek...). He is very protective of his sisters and they have become great friends (most of the time, anyway). My only advice would be to keep a sense of humor, and pray, pray, PRAY!
ReplyDeleteI have 3 kids, ages 15, 11, and 3 (boy, girl, boy). My 3 year old is the biggest little monkey EVER. He has climbed INTO the washing machine (HE top loader). He climbs EVERYTHING. He started young, and I have no idea what to do about it except laugh. He climbed on the changing table. He climbed on his high chair. He climbed on his crib. I went to the Memphis zoo back in October and I promise you, those monkeys had NOTHING on my little Brody. If you figure out how to make Jack stop climbing, please let me know!
ReplyDeleteKate,
ReplyDeleteI have 5 children...their ages are 11, 10, 5, 4 and 17 months. Let me tell you a story of my 17 month old little "on the move" boy. I was in the kitchen washing supper dishes. Our kitchen, living room and dinning room is all one big open room. My back is towards the living room. My 5 year old say "mommy". I don't move I just say "what?" He doesn't answer so I continuing washing dishes without turning towards the living room. I know the kids are laying in the floor watching cartoons, no problems. My 5 year says "ah, mommy". Again my response is "what?" Again no answer I just continue washing all those dishes. A few minutes go by and my 5 year olds voice is much higher "ah Mommy I think you need to look at Ripken (17 month old). I turn around to say "why?" to almost have a heart attack. My 17 month old little boy Ripken had climbed up on top of the piano.....I was like don't move Ripken. I ran over to snatch him off the top of the piano before he fell off. He is a total climber....he keeps this mommy hopping. Needless to say when one of my children says "Mommy." I turn to look at them before I say "What?'" Got to love those little climbers.
My boys were exactly the same way. My oldest, now 7, was tough but managable because he was my only. My daughter was nothing like him.
ReplyDeleteNow I have another 2 year old boy and I find myself in your shoes often. Daily. It's mentally and emotionally exhausting.
I have no advice...just encouragement. My 7 year old is a wonderful boy. I was very consistent with him and did things like: keep his hands busy at the grocery store so he didn't touch EVERYTHING and ANYTHING within his reach (he still does that, so I have him push the cart). I also kept him in a stroller or buckled into a seat of some kind (shopping cart, for example) as long as humanly possible. I do that to a degree with my youngest now, but man oh man, it's just not as easy with the two older kids in tow.
Boys are busy...but the best news is that busy kids end up being incredibly smart. He's learning constantly... "what will happen if I take out this baby wipe...? And this one...and THIS one...?"
You just need to channel that energy for good and not evil. ;)
Boys are so much fun, but also so trying. I have two girls that are 10 and 7 and then along came my little boy. He is now 4 and he tests me everyday. I always wonder why God blessed me with a little boy that needs a lot of patience from his mother, because he knew I needed to work on my patience. Well, he is making me work on that aspect of my life for sure. I have also added another little boy to my life and he is 19 months old. Right around Jack's age. He just got switched to a toddler bed as he climbed out of his crib 4 times in one night! I believe that boys are just so much harder as young kids as girls. It does get a little easier as they get older. My four year old is slowly getting better.
ReplyDeleteI have never commented on one of your posts, but I have been following you since the beginning with Lucy. I pray for her everyday. Also, your posts on Celiac Disease made me check into my symptoms a little bit more and I recently found out I have this disease. It is hard to change my entire way of cooking and feeding myself and my four children.
Good luck on Thursday and I pray for great news!!