As a parent, I sometimes find myself feeling a bit anxious about spending one-on-one time with my little boy, Oliver. He’s an absolute bundle of joy, but his vocabulary currently consists of “more,” “no,” and “go,” which doesn’t exactly make for riveting conversation. Plus, he’s still quite attached to me, and if I stray too far, I’m met with an urgent “Mama?!” that echoes through the house. Despite adoring his chubby cheeks, tiny giggles, and the recent addition of his first pair of sneakers, there are moments when he can be a handful, especially when I’d like to do any of the following:
- Enjoy a meal without a little shadow trying to snatch my food.
- Tend to my garden without a tiny explorer uprooting my plants.
- Complete a sudoku puzzle (yes, I enjoy those!) without a mini artist scribbling on the page.
- Use the bathroom in peace without a curious little one barging in.
- Do laundry without a mischievous toddler grabbing freshly folded clothes and running off with them.
- Organize the dishes without a mini acrobat attempting to juggle the fragile glassware.
- Pick out some jewelry without a little thief making off with my favorite pieces (goodbye, special necklace!).
- Take a shower without the worry that my makeup has been turned into a modern art installation on the bathroom wall.
- Clean up the blocks without a tiny bulldozer scattering everything I just organized.
- Zone out on my laptop without an adorable reminder of how I can sometimes seem distant and distracted.
However, after dropping my older son off at school today, Oliver and I enjoyed a lovely morning outdoors—ah, the joys of spring! Parents of toddlers truly cherish the moment the snow melts and we can let our little ones roam free in the sunshine.
After a somewhat futile attempt to prune some flowers (a note to the wise: don’t do that with a toddler around, unless you want to witness a floral disaster), I decided to redirect Oliver to an area where he could play safely. We then spent the next hour just being together. I lay back on the grass, soaking up the warm sun, the type that makes you feel cozy and content. Oliver nestled into my lap, claiming me as his spot, and we quietly observed the world around us—birds chirping, cars passing by, and the feel of grass between our fingers.
As I held him close, I couldn’t help but realize how precious these moments are, especially since I haven’t had much one-on-one time with him in his short 22 months of life. I felt no regret for not scrolling through the latest sale on clothes, because this connection with my son is worth so much more.
For those interested in navigating the journey of parenthood, don’t forget to check out other helpful articles on our blog, such as the one on home insemination. If you’re seeking reliable information on the topic, Make a Mom offers great resources as well, and IVF Babble is an excellent place for understanding pregnancy and home insemination.
Summary: Parenting a toddler can be both delightful and challenging; moments of frustration occasionally sneak in, but the joy of connection makes it all worthwhile.