As a newer mother the word No seems to be the only thing in my vocabulary these days. When I say 'newer' I mean I'm not fresh out of the hospital but instead I have survived my first year of motherhood. My daughter Ellasyn is 1 and a full blown toddler. I wished for this day everyday until it came.
From newborn to six months life was simple. She would just lay there, slept in her own crib, and was easy-ish. But when 6 months came along she was sitting up and the demanding 'don't leave the room I can see you wherever you go' kicked in. Ugh!! "I can't wait for her to crawl, so she can have some independence," I would explain to anyone who would listen. I would roll my eyes ans say that I was in hell, because she stopped napping and started sleeping with us and her new 'trick' of sitting was more of a burden than a success. I know, I'm horrible.
Army crawling came a month or so later and finally she could go after what she wanted,or follow me to the next room. She will be getting more exercise, which surely will help her sleep better. This will be an awesome accomplishment! Everything I just said is what I told myself, none of these things actually happened. She didn't go after what she wanted, she still screamed, what I believe to be constant, and if I dare stepped out of her sight that was it.
Regular crawling, then cruising, and now walking all followed. With each new thing she could do I became more and more thrilled on just how much easier this was going to be. While yes in many ways it did get easier but now I'm on NO patrol 24/7. No don't touch that, No don't climb that, No this and No that. I read that is good to give them a reason why they can't eat the rocks in the fireplace. So my No's became, 'let's not do that because if you eat those you will choke and die.' She would laugh and just do it again. Who writes these damn books on patenting?! Are they actually parents?! Not a single one says when you discipline your kid their going to laugh in your face and do it anyways.
And then if I raise my voice when I say no, even a little she cries like I just told her I was going to put her up for adoption. I'm glad she's exploring but does she really have to suck on the squirter of the Windex. Or eat lotion. Does that actually taste good? It doesn't. I tried sucking on the baby lotion to see if anything was actually coming out and there was. It tasted like soap. She obviously didn't mind it one bit because she just snatched it away and put it right back in her mouth. Which I will need to remember when she's older and says SHIT. Threatening to wash her mouth out with soap won't be so much of a threat. I hope she doesn't grow up to be on that show Strange Addictions. And even though we have everything locked away and the cabinets baby proofed she as just learned how to reach her hand inside and pull down that little white thingy. Now what am I supposed to do?
So tell me is No actually the solution? Should I sit down and have a heart to heart with her? With all the No going on in our house, she loves shaking her head...No. "Are you ready to get out of the bath?" She turns her back to me and shakes her head NO. "Would you like to add a Hell in front if that darling? Or maybe flip me the bird?"
It's bound to get easier. Then harder. Then easier....surely.
Today I am a wife, mother, and "Ellasyn, NO, get your hand out of mommy's wine. I don't share."
Keep Catching Those Fireflies!!
CJ
So I changed the name to Catching Fireflies. Because let's face it their slow so chasing them doesn't last long. I also started my Photogrpahy business. Well, I'm trying too. Since there's about a gazillion photographers out there its a competitive field. Check out my Facebook page Catching Fireflies Photography. Thanks!
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