Skip to main content

Mom-piphany

I had somewhat of a Mommy epiphany yesterday. After telling Brennan for the 4 billionth time to not get out games, touch the buttons on the TV, or rip decorations off of the tree. It hit me. I don't remember anything from my childhood until I was maybe 4 years old. So... suddenly I understood why I have to tell my babies over and over and over to do (or not to do) something... they have goldfish memories. They are ruled by their brains and their brains are in "learning mode". So while I see a kid reaching for Boggle and visualize the mess and get flustered because I have to tell him AGAIN not to touch my games, his little brain only sees a cool little grid that dice fit into if he can master the use of his fingers, and a very fun loud noise to make if he can manage to get the lid on tight and keep it on while he shakes it. When he goes for the tree he sees a shiny thing, maybe out of reach, and his brain tells him to see what it feels like, to see if his arms can reach that high. A child this young is NOT doing something just to annoy his parents, he HAS to test himself. He needs to know what happens. Every time he notices something new... the branches give way when he touches them, he has to pull harder on the ornaments that are on strings, some of them make noise, some of them are bumpy, if he stands on his toes he's taller. Then he quickly forgets and needs to try again.

Baby brains need constant reminders and "tests" so they can learn their body's limitations. The terrible toddler years are just that. Repetition of trying the stairs, getting body parts stuck in containers, breaking Mommy's stuff... because they need to learn what they are capable of and what that means in reference to their environment. Brennan destroys an ornament and learns that "permanence of objects" is an illusion and he has power to change the way an object looks. Tristan jumps off the couch and falls repeatedly and learns that he has to plant his feet or he'll get hurt. All these little life lessons aren't easy, they have to be programmed... fine motor skills and complex thought, self realization... these things take time and practice. They're not bad, they're learning. So... let 'em learn, give them more, and try to make sure they don't get hurt :) Maybe this will increase my patience and understanding even MORE.

Comments

Britni said…
I absolutely agree! I thin this too as Evan does things like this...they aren't being bad, just curious :) I just had a woman tell me her daughter was into throwing tantrums lately...she was only 1 years old...I felt like saying, you have no idea whats coming lately. They are still so innocent to me at this age :)
Sally Niemann said…
If you were a professor in an Education Department at a university, you would be conducting a lesson on "natural consequences." There should be a degree program for mommies! However, by the time we all achieve our PhD's, they leave the nest! lol

Popular posts from this blog

Hurricane Sandy

This will be a gleefully uneventful post, but I thought I should at least inform everyone of our whereabouts during Frankenstorm. On Friday the landfall predictions were further south, which had the eye passing near our tiny town after obliterating Dover, DE.  We happen to be surrounded by water.  The Patuxent River on one side, Chesapeake Bay on the other, plenty of swamps and creeks in between.  Not a good prospect. Josh and I had gone out that night to try and secure supplies and already, there were no batteries or flashlights.  We also don't have a grill and thought "we'll try Lowe's tomorrow"I mean, most people already own grills... right?  Everything in our house is run on electricity (including the water pump for the well) except for the fireplace.  I don't know what builders are thinking when they do that.  I at least want a gas stove and water heater!  So, anyways.  We got a few hours of sleep before trying to brave the crowds...

Germany

Noah and I are having a great time out in Germany with Josh. The house we're sharing is amazing and the people are also amazing. The only thing we don't have is our own kitchen, but like I said, the people who live here (Josh's friends) are amazing so it's not even an issue. I've been cooking for everyone to try to thank them in some way. We haven't been to many places yet. It's hard to go anywhere with a baby who has a naptime and a husband who has a job. However!! We managed to make it out to Heidelberg to see the castle. It was awesome. the walk up to the castle mmmm castle Heidelberg down below Christmas is huge here. They've even got Christmas markets out in the parking lot in front of WalMart. We've been to Luisenplatz a few times in downtown Darmstadt to visit all the Christmas shops they have set up. It's like a Christmas flea market. Thus far all I've blown money on is candy... mmmm German candy is so delicious. It's...

Hiking on the Guadarrama Trail

As promised yesterday, I actually left the house and went on a hike with Mama C and Goober!  YAY! I was a bad Mommy and ill prepared to shield us from the hot Spanish sun so we all have a touch of sunburn.  Whoops.  It was fun though.  OK so here's where we began our journey.  You can see the bridge between the roundabout and the little house with a red roof (which is a restaurant).  All the cylindrical buildings were a plant nursery.  We walked over the bridge and past the nursery where we crossed the street and then started up the dirt path.  The other little building is literally a Gypsy Keep. Here's what it looked like from the road... and it was so ridiculously creepy, yet fascinating.  I don't know why there is always tons of junk in trees around gypsy places.  There was a gutted van in the backyard, a stroller jammed into a wall, shorts in the trees.  We both wanted to trespass, but the kids would have inevitably fal...