The new new normal, served up hot
Friday, January 14, 2011 at 2:23PM The imp of perversity is visiting again, guiding its three year-old host into behaviors that leave us shaking our heads and saying “Fuck, that was new and horrible”. After the long long bedtime vigils of cuddling Seamus while he kicks and thrashes and plays long after lights out, shushing and kissing and getting cross till he finally passes out, we talk over our puzzlement about the new changes in him. Was there a nap? Late afternoon sweet treat? Too many delays in the bedtime routine laving him wired and triggering crap sleep which snowballs into the inexplicable? Developmental upload? Preschool influence?
Fuck if we know.
“Why did you do X?” we ask him often these days, after he’s sprinted down a neighbor’s driveway and into their parking area irregardless of months of mindful behavior. Dumping half a pound of rice from the rice bin and scattering it across his room. Destroying book jackets. Throwing food on the floor. Leaving the house unobserved. Hitting us, always with his fists.
“Because I did it”, he responds.
I think I’m looking at the minimizing or outright end of quiet time, and increasing his outside time, weather be damned. We had such a good routine before the holidays, one that I hope lets us adjust. Also, keeping that damn swing lock in place, because that second set of eyes I ordered on Amazon have shown up, but the installing sockets haven’t. On the plus side, I want him riding his bike more often anyways. I think we now have our afternoon outside activity sewn up.
Reader Comments (2)
I am starting to see what you mean. This morning, as I thrashed around with Dylan trying to get his diaper changed, he reached down, grabbed a handful of poop, and rubbed it in his hair. I don't know if it's a gender thing or simply bad memory on my part, but I don't recall too many mornings with Gabby where I was covered in poop, snot, and Desitin before 7 am.
Oh noes! You need 3-4 small distracting toys that ONLY get used during diaper changes. Shiny and loud are good.
Seriously, though, I thought we had that mad energy peak right before his third birthday and that we were done and he'd taper a bit, become more focused. Not yet.