Ah, the joys of parenting! Just when you think you’re recovering from the flu, a stomach bug, or whatever you want to call it, your tiny tyrant decides that 2 AM is the perfect time to start his nightly concert. Who’s the culprit? Our 4-month-old bundle of joy, who weighs a solid 20 pounds and has no qualms about crying until I feed him. Why? Because he’s a little rascal. And in my moment of frustration, I found myself whispering the words from my favorite bedtime story, “Just go to sleep!”
Why? Because sometimes, I can be a rascal too. Those first four months felt like an endless loop of rocking him to sleep, both of us crying for different reasons—me from sheer exhaustion and him from whatever discomfort he was feeling. Was his diaper too tight? Was the white noise not loud enough? Who knows? All I could think about was how I longed for the days when sleep was an option, not a luxury. Who wishes for a child to disappear? Just the tired parents, that’s who.
Once we were all back to normal and functioning, our little guy decided that the only way he would settle down was if we held him upright on our laps while he bounced on his chubby little legs. Let me tell you, it’s quite the workout for your arms! Maybe he was just being a thoughtful little rascal this time!
For three long days, we took turns bouncing him until he was tired enough to nap in his swing—thankfully gifted to us by some wise friends who clearly aren’t little rascals themselves. After our arms felt like jelly, my partner and I decided it was time to invest in a Jumperoo. We wandered through the aisles of Target, reading the specs on various models, hoping to find one that offered the perfect blend of fun and exercise. We finally picked one that played classical music, and after shelling out $100, we were on our way home, ready to reclaim some of our sanity.
Once the Jumperoo was set up, we placed our little rascal inside, and you know what he did? He smiled for all of five seconds before erupting into a full-blown tantrum, flailing his arms and hitting everything within reach. So much for our parenting gadget! We left him to cry for a few minutes because, well, sometimes you just have to let them be.
The next day, I thought I’d give the Jumperoo another shot. Babies can be fickle, after all. Maybe today would be the day he loves it! I held my breath as he grabbed at the toy sunflower, only to discover it wouldn’t budge. His little fists flew in frustration as he tried to punch it into submission. The sight of him screaming at that inanimate object made me burst into laughter—not because I want him to be upset, but because it’s a small lesson in life. He will face many challenges ahead, and sometimes things just won’t go your way.
I recalled my own frustrations from that previous night and found comfort in knowing that feeling exhausted and overwhelmed is part of the journey. So I scooped him up, and as he snuggled into my neck, I whispered, “It’s okay, little rascal. We’re in this together.”
We’re going to be just fine.
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Summary:
Parenting a 4-month-old can be filled with exhausting challenges, from sleepless nights to frustrating toys. Yet, in the midst of chaos, there are moments of joy and laughter that remind us we’re navigating this journey together.