The 'whiny ones'
Published:Monday | June 14, 2010 | 12:00 AM
Emma Dalton-Brown, Gleaner Writer
Are you sitting at home (or work) wondering why your little toddler cries so much? He's fed and watered, has had his nappy changed, and you are certain he is not sick. So why is he screaming?
From the day babies are born, their parents dictate what they do. Infants comply without much fuss. As they grow older, start to sit up, crawl, and so on, their character blossoms. It's sweet and enchanting, and it makes all mummies and daddies feel proud. However, there comes a moment, albeit subtle, when your wee one is determined to do his own thing. It creeps upon you slowly, until someday your brow scrunches up as you wonder when and how this happened.
Independent
I cannot remember exactly when this occurred with our family, but I can tell you that in the last couple weeks my husband and I have been amazed at how clever and independent our growing chap is. I won't lie to you, it can be exasperating when you are fatigued and your child does not want to sit in one room, playing with his toys.
However, it is quite amusing when he pulls off his diaper, goes to the drawer containing all the house keys, and waddles to the grill gate that leads out to where the hose is! If I don't unlock said gate, allowing him to get outside, well, let's just say that the neighbours will know about it! It's as if he simply decides, "Oh, I'd like to go and run around in the garden, and have mummy spray water on me." Similar to us waking up and thinking that we fancy going to the beach, let's say.
He has the same determination in the mornings, with certain things. When I've finished nursing him (yes, I am still doing that!), he sits up and says, "boo." If I don't bring books for him to flick through, one piece of bawling begins! And after he's had his bath, he walks to his closet and demands, "tshoosies." He wants to put on shoes.
Now, this kind of determination is very useful sometimes. Believe it or not, my 13-month-old child will walk to the fridge when he is hungry or thirsty. When he reaches it, he bangs on the door! If it's crackers he wants, he points upwards to the freezer section, where we keep them. And inside the fridge, rest assured he heads straight for the fruit tray, while mumbling which one he wants. He's a year old!! How does he know where everything is? Take last week, for instance. I could not find the bunch of keys which open the grill gate.
Found them
Like a naughty mummy (I am always telling my husband to make sure he puts them back!), I had not returned them to the drawer. Imagine my amazement when my son took hold of my hand and led me to my desk. Well, lo and behold, there the keys were!
Don't think that we pander to his every request. As parents, we must choose our battles. If our toddler wants to do something that is harmful to anyone, we put up with his protests when we prevent him from doing such thing. No argument there. If he leaves the room and wants us to follow, for the most part we do. Not allowing him freedom of movement, simply because I have to write this article, is not a war we need to get into. When he nears a low step, we let him figure it out. Anything that is likely to bring on a bigger catastrophe, such as pulling down a stack of baking pans, will involve us restricting him. I learnt my lesson last month, when he brought down the steamer pot right on top of his big toe!
It's not easy to endure a complaining kid of any age, but my father always tells me that if they don't give trouble, then it means they have no personality! I was just under the impression that the 'terrible twos' would start in a year's time. No one told me about the 'whiny ones'!