1. Sickness. My son is a day care kid. That place is just the zoo of germs, viruses, and gross.
2. Teething. Loss of sleep, fevers, and cringe-worthy diapers...yuck
3. Biting. Although it IS part of a child's development, my child used it as his primary means of communication. I'm bored... Bite. I like you....Bite. I'm so excited...Bite. You get the idea.
4. Crawling. New movements mean bigger boo-boos and more trouble.
5. Walking. See above and multiple by 2.
6. Talking. (Or really a lack of) When your child wants desperately to communicate but can't they will act out from the frustration. The biting and screaming reach their max and then BOOM one day he can tell you his hands are sticky. Game changer!
7. Diaper Rash. Usually from teething but it does keep them up at night and they start to hate changes. Butt Paste...no really get some.
8. Strangers. And not really strangers. Anyone that they do one see regularly can be difficult.
9. Changes in routine. An absolute day-wrecker. Naps and Bed Time need to happen at the same time everyday. He lived by routine which made holidays, travel, and any thing outside the norm extremely difficult.
10. Ear Infections. I suppose this could go under "sickness" but it's more like the bonus track. He did eventually get tubes and I wish we had pushed for them sooner.
I think 10 examples is probably enough....although I could probably write posts about each of these things, I think I'd like to leave it in the rosey glow of hindsight.
2-2.5 comes with it's own challenges some of which are unique to him. New teachers, new routines, and POTTY TRAINING (which we just started). He struggles with sensory in-put (both seeking and avoiding) and remains a highly active and very creative little man. He is so full of feelings (as many toddlers are) but the purest joy that he exudes is a privilege to share.
So while I could go on and on about my not-so-baby boy, we are starting a new chapter by bringing a another little one into our whirl-wind crazy lives. Maybe this time I'll be able to keep up with the posts!
