“Life with a toddler is humbling.”
Jordan was scrolling through an article on his phone and reading excerpts to me aloud. The article was all about typical toddler behavior, and it tried to reassure parents that most of the things we might find troubling about our child’s behavior were completely normal in his development to managing and expressing his emotions.
I’d just finished pouring out my heart about how Jameson’s hurling of things across the room and face slaps and throwing himself like an olympian doing a back dive into a pool have me questioning, “where did my sweet baby go?” And more accurately, “Am I getting this thing right?”
I know all the things that people would say to me and any parent asking this question. That I’m doing a great job. That Jameson is incredibly loved, which is the principal thing. That he’ll be fine.The rational part of me knows all these things to be true. But the emotional side of me can’t help but question whether I’m suffering from a case of not knowing what I don’t know. That by very nature of being flawed, I’m certain to get some things wrong. And I’m sensing that parenting is a never-ending path of feeling your way through, searching for the right balance of giving guidance, nurturing, protection, and correction.
Life with a 16-month-old is humbling.But as I think about it, parenting of children at any stage must be humbling. As they grow into children who rely on you less and less. As they become teenagers who suddenly view you as enemy #1. As they become adults who have a better sense of your very real flaws and brokenness. And as even older adults who come to take care of you.
Parenting is humbling.In the midst of the self-doubts being a parent exposes, there are incredibly bright moments that seem to redeem it all.My favorite thing about Jameson at this age is watching him wanting to do what “big people” do. He grabs cups, places his hand inside, and pulls out imaginary pieces of food that he feeds to himself — complete with fake chewing — and to us. (We, of course, always comment on how delicious it is, which makes him very pleased and eager to feed us more.) When he puts food on a spoon, he blows on it before eating it, not because it’s too hot, but because it’s what he sees us doing with his morning oatmeal.
He has a case of Sesame Street books that he grabs like a briefcase, while waving emphatically and saying, “see you later!” as though he’s headed off to work. He takes important calls on his toy cell phone. He loves to get his teeth brushed after we’ve brushed ours. He pretends to put Purell on his hands and rub them together (a post diaper routine for us). And he loves to hold the basketball like his daddy.There are also incredibly endearing moments when he backs up with anticipation, just so he can run back to me, laughing, and land in my arms. And there are hugs, where he stretches his little arms as far as they can go, leans into my neck, and embraces me. His hands land on my arms, since he’s not big enough to reach around to my back.
And then… he’ll pat me a few times with both hands, almost as if to say, “You need this, and I’m going to affirm you. You’re a good mom.”
8 Comments
Crystal
September 16, 2016 at 11:19 amAwwww to cute. I often wonder how mamas have the energy. Just watching sometimes tires me. Lol.
Jessica Rice
September 23, 2016 at 12:55 amLOL! You’ll understand from first-hand experience soon enough. But I believe parents get something like spiritual super-strength to get through the exhaustion. :-)
Christina
September 16, 2016 at 1:03 pmAll of this :-)
Jessica Rice
September 23, 2016 at 12:53 amI’m sure you know all too well!
Maria
September 17, 2016 at 3:50 amThanks for sharing this! I often wonder when things will get easier and when I will have all the answers. Parenting is the hardest, yet most rewarding job I’ve ever had. I am thankful for your honesty in knowing that we may never have all the answers, but it’s a journey and we do our best along the way.
Jessica Rice
September 23, 2016 at 12:53 amI wholeheartedly agree with it being both the hardest and most rewarding thing in life. I do think it’s easier when we know other parents are feeling as crazy as we do. :-)
Rasheida Mitchell
September 21, 2016 at 3:33 pmI couldn’t wait to become a parent thinking I’d have a modern spin on all those witty and lesson appropriate tactics that the “The Cosby Show” so effortlessly displayed on parenting. Minus the script I wills say our household does have some pretty TV worthy moments. From holding back our laughs when our toddler would fake cry in attempt to get what he wanted. To catching ourselves when we become short with our preschooler when all he wanted to do was play with one of us. Even learning to acknowledge when we have handled something not in the most appropriate way but talking out it out with our now kindergartner and saying sorry. An array of emotions that have you questioning if your actions with, toward or shown to your child will someone how haunt them as a adults. Then in that same split second of doubt I hear a little voice “you are the best mommy or daddy EVER!” and you immediately know you are doing something right. Like you, I know for sure we provide an abundance of LOVE and that is the basis for everything else to follow.
Jessica Rice
September 23, 2016 at 12:52 amI love this. Thanks so much for sharing it with me. :-)