Parenting
Ah, the flu. That delightful little gift that keeps on giving. It hit me hard, leaving me in a state of misery where every time I dared to stand up, chaos ensued. And who cared about my plight? My 4-month-old, of course! You know, the one who decided tonight was the perfect time to wake up every two hours, demanding his 20-pound self be soothed with a bottle. Yep, that’s right. My sweet little tyrant.
In a moment of desperation, I leaned in close, whispering with a mix of affection and frustration, “Go the heck to sleep.” Because let’s face it, I’m a bit of a tyrant too. This was just one of countless nights spent rocking him back to sleep, tears streaming down my face—mine from sheer exhaustion, his for reasons only he understands. Maybe it was his diaper, or perhaps the white noise machine was too quiet? Who knows? All I knew was that I wished desperately for the days when sleep was a luxury, not a distant memory. Who even thinks such things about their own child? Only the truly exhausted, right?
Just as we were starting to feel human again, the little guy made it clear that he would only settle if one of us held him upright on our laps, bouncing him on those chubby little legs. Now, if you want a workout, try bouncing a 20-pound baby. This time, he was being a considerate little tyrant!
For three long days, it was a game of baby pass-around, lifting him just enough to let him bounce until he was too tired to do anything but collapse into a quick nap in his swing. Thank goodness for that swing, gifted to us by wise friends at our baby shower—those folks are definitely not tyrants.
With sore muscles that could rival a CrossFit enthusiast, my partner and I decided to purchase a Jumperoo. The choices were overwhelming, and as we browsed the aisles of Target, fellow parents exchanged knowing smiles. After much deliberation, we landed on a model that plays our baby’s favorite classical tunes. A hundred dollars later, we were on our way home, optimistic that this would be the magical solution that would allow us to reclaim some free time—time to wash dishes, do laundry, or sneak away for a quick drink.
My partner set up the Jumperoo, and we placed our little bundle of joy inside. For a brief moment, he smiled before erupting into a tantrum, flailing his arms and striking the nearby toys like a tiny boxer. We let him cry for a few minutes, because, well, that’s how it goes sometimes.
“It’s OK, little tyrant,” I cooed. “You can be mad at the Jumperoo.” Not that we had spent our hard-earned money on it or anything. Maybe when he gets his first job, we’ll send him an invoice for all the baby gear we’ve accumulated.
The next day, I decided to give the Jumperoo another shot. Babies have this ridiculous habit of changing their minds. I held my breath, hoping he would finally find joy in it and let me clean the house or take a nap. Nope. He grabbed at the smiling sunflower toy and pulled with all his might, only to be met with its stubborn refusal to move. In a fit of frustration, he swung his tiny fist at it, as if a good punch would change its mind.
I couldn’t help but laugh at his determination. It was a small disappointment, one of many more to come as he grows. The world is full of unyielding sunflowers that will laugh in his face, and soon he’ll learn that he can’t scream and punch his way through life.
Reflecting on that night of nausea and frustration, watching my little tyrant face his first taste of disappointment was oddly comforting. It reminded me that frustration and exhaustion are part of the journey. We’re all in this together, learning and growing.
I scooped him up, and he wrapped his tiny arms around my neck, pressing his face against mine. “There, there, little one. Your mom isn’t perfect either. But together, we’ll be just fine.”
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Summary
Parenting a 4-month-old can feel like a rollercoaster of challenges and triumphs. From sleepless nights to navigating new toys, the journey is filled with heartwarming moments and the realization that both parents and babies can be a little tyrannical. Embracing these experiences with humor helps us grow together.
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