3 years

[metaphortunate]

My 9 month old has mastered leaning back against my arm and tipping his head back when I rinse his hair so as not to get water in his eyes. This still eludes my 3 year old.

I mean, I guess I can see it. Leaning back, trusting me to hold him up, keeping his eyes closed - that’s kind of a trust exercise, right? Mama could do anything! Mama could shove walruses up his nose! An innocent toddler could be sitting there in the bath squeezing his eyes shut and suddenly - walruses! In the nose! Much better apparently to freak out for maximum splashing and cry the entire time.

So yeah, I have a 3 year old now. Dear God, kid birthday parties are a pain in the ass. You do have to invite either no daycare kids or all the daycare kids. And you have to give them all presents because apparently the under 3 feet crowd is easily confused with hobbits. And sure, you buy like some bubbles and some cheap plastic crap, but you invite 20 kids and suddenly that adds up.

In the end it was a successful party though. We had it in the park. Arrival went like this:

1) Kid and at least one parent show up
2) Kid begins silently, grimly clinging to parent’s leg
3) Parent apologetically swears that kid was very excited just a second ago and was talking about the party all the way there
4) Kid cannot be dislodged for 5 or 10 minutes, despite offers of tempting balls to kick or hit with a bat, snacks, a kite, or friends
5) Kid tentatively goes after a ball
6) Kid becomes a blur of motion that periodically slows into focus to ask for a cupcake. This lasts for the rest of the party

Invariable process. We had very few meltdowns, and I think the Junebug had a good time, so: win.

Daycare is closed this week. Mom came to visit this week to help out. The Junebug adores her, so, you know, that’s great. If you’re on Twitter, you already heard this, but: now I get to hear the stories of how when she was a new mom, my dad’s mom came to visit, and what a pain in the ass she was. And I knew my Abuelita Y was a character, but damn.

Apparently Abuelita Y did this EC thing where she always put my dad on the potty while she nursed him? Which rightkindofme says she did too, so it must be possible, but frankly I have a hard time visualizing it and would like some diagrams. Anyway, it seems Abuelita came to visit and harassed my mom until she tried it but OH MY GOD NO. She also decided to get up in my mom’s business about how much money they were ~wasting~ on the laundromat - since they didn’t have a washer - and she made my mom wash all our clothes by hand in the tub while she was there. Apparently Abuelita helpfully held baby me while my mom was doing this.

So I’ve got it easy, really.

Comments

walruses! in the nose!

[jrtom]

*cracks up*

You know you've been a parent for a while when you use phrases like "very few meltdowns" non-ironically, and as an umambiguously positive description. :)

[wordweaverlynn]

I love the idea of a kids' party in the park. Plenty for them to do, and they can't trash your house. Also, you don't have to clean your house if it's already trashed.

[cahn]

Ahahahaha yesssss everything you say about birthday parties. (I chickened out and had two: pizza and cake at her school, and then small party at our house with no daycare invites.)

Although at the last party we went to, my kid mostly clung to my leg the entire time except when there was a promise of food. (Fortunately, this included the party games with lollipop prizes.) Ah, the joys of introversion.

(harimad here)

[(Anonymous)]

That sounds like a successful b'day party to me! I have summer babies. We had their first 3 birthdays each in the backyard. Wading pools/water games, cupcake decorating, whatever it was it stayed outside and cleanup was the garbage can and a hose.

Re: walruses! in the nose!

[khedron]

+1 to that!

Also: Whee, perspective and silver linings!

Happy birthday, Junebug!

[tekalynn.livejournal.com]

I never mastered the "close eyes, lean head back" technique myself. What (finally) worked for me was to lean forward slightly and hold a washcloth over my eyes. This gave me more stability than leaning back and made me feel more in control of the proceedings. Holding the washcloth also gave me something to do instead of just being passive and bored.

Re: walruses! in the nose!

[metaphortunate]

Hah. Right?

I remember, years ago, at a juggling festival, thinking seriously "Oh, I never spend time with kids, so that's why it freaks me out when I hear someone screaming or crying. In my life, if there's screaming or crying, something's seriously wrong and I run to help."

YEAH I'M OVER THAT NOW.

Re: walruses! in the nose!

[metaphortunate]

Thank you! So far, I'm a fan of three!

[metaphortunate]

That is exactly why we've had his last two birthdays there. :D

I spent so much time trying to make sure we had activities: buying a tee ball set, kickballs, etc. The big win: a pile of dirt, which they hit with sticks. Park = win.

Re: (harimad here)

[metaphortunate]

Small backyard here, but yes! Same principle.

[metaphortunate]

I may honestly agitate to do this next time. :P It was fun! He had fun! I got to see a bunch of friends, and get to know some daycare parents better! But OMG was it hard on an introvert. I mean, I literally spent the afternoon in bed. Napped and just could not get up.

[metaphortunate]

I meant to try this next bath! And then E washed him - and somehow mastered the tipping back. ARGH. I'ma try it next time anyway.

[norah]

LOL PILE OF DIRT AND STICKS. Three! I think the big hit at Anya's third was balloons, but I can't remember, honestly.

[norah]

A in the shower this morning, proudly: "Mama, I chinupping!" (When I tilt her head back to rinse I always tell her, "chin up!"