One, Two, Buckle My Shoe

One of the parents at daycare is pregnant with her second child. And since Alex is one of few only children there, it immediately prompts every teacher to ask me when we are having another one. That is when I burst out laughing while remembering that it has taken prescription medicine to get me to be capable of dealing with one. What the hell would happen if I had another one of these running around? Of course, simply being happy with that decision wouldn't be very obsessive of me, now would it? So all morning I have been thinking about why it is such a big deal to have an only child and whether or not we making the right decision for our family.

Aside from social norms, I honestly do not see having only one child as a bad thing. A lot of people (read: 99.9% of my friends & acquaintances) seem to think that only children grow up to be maladjusted adults. Dude. A ton of multiple children families produce maladjusted adults. I believe that no matter how many kids are in a family, if those kids have good parents, they are gonna be decent adults. It's the making sure I am a good parent part that scares the shit out of me. Now that is obviously not a fool proof ideal since as previously stated, some families produce some great and some not so great kids from the same parents. But just let me hang on to it.

Yes, there are unique challenges to raising an only child to not be a total jerkstore, but there are a zillion unique challenges to raising any human...no matter how many you have. Then what about sibling companionship? I will tell you, I love my sisters. We definitely have a special relationship that cannot be duplicated. But there are a lot people that don't have that kind of relationship with their siblings. How many times do you hear, "yeah...but he's my brother so..." So what? So you have to love and tolerate someone because you share the same genes? Just because I decide to pop out another beast child, it doesn't mean Alex and Second Beast Child are for sure going to automatically and forever love each other to bits and pieces. I will admit that I do know way more people that do in fact love their siblings, but I think this is a valid point.

So where does that leave me? Is this a financial decision? Not gonna lie, that's a big part of it. Is it a selfish decision? In keeping with the truth, I have no desire to be pregnant again. So I guess that part of it is selfish. But I didn't have a single shred of desire to be pregnant the first time and clearly I was willing to take one for the team there.

I guess all I can go on is how we are doing now. Not how other people think we should be doing. But how things are working for our family. We don't feel like our family is lacking. We don't feel like we are missing out on something. I suppose if those things change we will adjust accordingly. But we all know how I feel about change.

I don't know what is going on, but my computer won't let me enter paragraph breaks in my posts...and that is the explanation for the giant paragraph today.

Goes around, comes around

We bought a tricycle for Alex this past weekend. It's super nice because it has a detachable handle for an adult to push/steer the tricycle until the kid gets a better idea of how pedaling and maneuvering work. It coasts when you are pushing it forward so he can have his feet on the pedals while we are going without them spinning around and potentially crushing his feet. And thank goodness for the adult steering part. If it weren't for that, Alex would never be on the sidewalk. He is a very aggressive turner. We'll work on that. While we were out on the tricycle's maiden voyage, the fact that I am a parent smacked me square in the face once again. As I said, this cute little trike has the lovely feature of coasting pedals. Alex found a different place for his feet. Dragging on the ground as we went along...toes of his little Chuck's scraping against the sidewalk. And that's when the parent in me came out. I heard his feet dragging and immediately "Alex! Pick up your feet! You're going to ruin your shoes!" came flying out of my mouth. Everyday, my mom and dad's seemingly ridiculous requests throughout childhood make more and more sense. I get it Mom & Dad. I will pick up my feet.

Thank you..but zip it.

Why is it that people think that anyone wants unsolicited advice? Especially about something so personal as child rearing. Now don't me wrong, I seek out advice any chance I can get. I have no idea what I am doing on an hourly basis and pretty much just spend my days hoping I am not screwing this kid up too much. But the key in that idea is that I ask for the advice. When I want it, and from whom I want it. I guess I understand that people mean well, but that doesn't stop my skin from crawling.

When Travis and I are each taking turns switching between scarfing down fish fry and chasing our toddler around a restaurant in a sad attempt to not deal with a meltdown, it is not the time for a regular at that bar to tell me that when he had his first child, his mother always said that it is never too early to start reprimanding. Oh really? Ok. I will be sure to think about that after I decide this is the battle I want to fight...in the middle of a bar/restaurant...that is completely full...full of people that do not want to hear a 21 month human throw an amazing tantrum.

And oh really? Your kid doesn't use a pacifier anymore? Well, that is fantastic for you. But don't you dare ask my kid "what he is doing with that thing in his mouth." You wanna know what he is doing with that thing in his mouth? He is being a kid that isn't quite ready to not have a pacifier. And a kid with parents that are not ready to take it away from him. Shut it.

K, I think I am done being irritated with people's good intentions. Maybe.

Aaaand I rule

Totally didn't realize today is March 25th. Never dawned on me the last three days when coming to and leaving from day care and reading the signS reminding me that March 25th is pajama day. Didn't even sink in yesterday when I was writing checks for work and dating them 3/24, that yesterday being the 24th would make today the 25th which would make it pajama day. Wanna guess how many kids were wearing their pajamas today? Yep. All of 'em. Except my kid.

But I did finally remember to bring a back up pair of pants in case of a diaper blow-out...so I get some points for that, right?

Guck.

Any time Alex cannot move or open something he makes this "eeeeee" noise to indicate he is expending an excruciating amount of energy and then declares it "guck." Unless it can be moved by the strength of a toddler, it is stuck for all eternity. Or until Travis or I or any other stronger person will move or open whatever it is that is "guck."

This morning on the way to day care he dropped his nuk while cramming Tootie Frooties into his face. I answered his uh-oh by telling him I would get it for him when we got to day care. He started reaching for it, but obviously couldn't reach the floor due to the fact he was strapped in like a fighter pilot. And then I hear it. Eeeeeeeeeeeee! Guck. I turn to tell him I will get it for him in a minute and see him arching his back as hard as he can trying to bust out of his car seat straps and then more loudly, EEEEEEEEEE!!! Guck! Which was accompanied not only with the back arching but also with the most pathetic little why-aren't-you-helping-me-get-out-of-this-contraption face.

All I could do was giggle and remind him that I know he is stuck. I do that on purpose.

Hands to yourself

Daycare is continuing to try to make my life difficult. They are still trying to teach this kid to not poop in pants. AND they have taught him how to use scissors! Don't they understand I just want a cute, underdeveloped kid that doesn't have to stop on trips to use the bathroom?

They have all the kids in his room sit on the toilet every day. Doesn't matter if they go or not, they are just getting them used to and acquainted with the whole bathroom scene. Apparently they have all the kids do this at the same time. Well, not exactly the same time since there is only one little kid toilet, but you know what I mean. So they are all in the bathroom at once. Parts are gonna get seen.

Alex and Ryne are showing interest in parts more quickly than others from what I've been told. Yesterday, Ryne tried to grab ahold of Alex's penis after he got off the toilet. And then Alex stared at her hoo-ha, pointed and said, "Pretty!" At this rate, these two will be teaching the rest of the kids sex ed by the end of the summer.