It's The Little Things

May 9, 2012 (transferred from a previous post)

I took Jonathan to play at the play place in the mall today.  We met a friend and her kids there.  Since we both have infants, we figured it would be good to get our older children out to play and burn off some energy. 

I found myself getting so frustrated with Jonathan at different times of the morning.  It started even before we left the house.  He didn’t want his diaper changed—I had to chase his bare bottom around with a diaper in my hand.  He wouldn’t sit down to put his shoes on to leave the house—I had to chase him around with his shoes and socks in my hand.  He didn’t want to get in his car seat after he climbed into the car—I had to climb through the mini-van to catch him and strap him in his seat. 

Once we got to the mall, he had to hold my hand and walk to the play place because I only brought the single stroller for Ben.  I should have known that getting to the play area would take FOREVER.  As we walked into the mall through JC Penney, he had to stop and talk to every mannequin (which I informed him were not real people), wave at every person, and hold his hand out to make every piece of hanging clothing swing back-and-forth.  When we finally got into the mall-part of the mall, he stopped to look at every window display (“Lady, Mama!” at the Victoria’s Secret window, “Bike!  Kids!” at the GapKids window).  He periodically screeched (“I scream, Mama!”) when we would pass people. 

When we finally reached our destination, he wouldn’t stay in the play place.  I was sitting down to chat with my friend (whose children seemed to be pros at playing here), and Jonathan kept going out to play with the hand-sanitizer machine.  Why couldn’t I just sit and relax?  Why did I have to continue getting up to chase my child around a contained play area?  Why did my child try to climb out OVER THE TOP OF THE FOUR OR FIVE FOOT HIGH RAILINGS of the play area?!  AAHH!!!  I was so frustrated with him. 

As I ushered us back through JC Penney to go home because it was nap time, Jonathan suddenly slowed way down and started tugging on my hand kind-of funny.  I looked down at him to tell him to hurry-up, and he grinned up at me.  “I a pen-gin, Mama!”  He was walking with stiff legs and waddling back-and-forth while still trying to keep up with me and hold my hand.  Sometime in the last week or so, he has started to pretend play.  His silly grin seemed to be saying to me, “I’m growing up, and I’m learning new things all the time, and you’re going to miss it because you’re always in such a hurry and want things to be so perfect.  Let’s have fun and not worry if naps are a little late or if the house isn’t clean or if we eat leftovers for dinner two nights in a row.  Right now, I’m holding your hand.”