Toddler-dom

On the eve of Sam's 15 month birthday, I realize that we have left infancy and are fully in the throes of toddlerhood.  This is the part of parenting that counts.  Sure, infants crave stability and love, but I felt fully prepared for that.  This is different.  Along with stability and love, a healthy dose of discipline and boundaries come into play.  I keep reading that discipline has its roots in the latin "disciple" which means simply, "to lead".  When I put it in these terms, it SOUNDS easier.  Discipleship, this notion of leading, takes so much more effort and energy.  While sleepless nights take a toll on your psyche and energy levels, constantly keeping up with a busy one is exhausting!  It is demanding and constant.  We've reached the adventurous, exploratory phase and we must set and enforce limits.  The trick then is remembering those limits and re-enforcing them next round they are pushed!  

We invested in space heaters to take the edge off our oil bill this winter.  We had to pull them out yesterday.  So obviously its a "no-touch" situation for Sam.  Enforcing this rule is the challenge.  He's at the cusp of innocence vs. defiance and is pushing back at every turn.  He wants to push the buttons at every opportunity.  I mean, it lights up, it makes noise, its FUN.  I feel like I spend my day saying "no touch! hot!".  So we have to persist at this until hopefully he learns to listen and not touch.  Its a matter of safety and safety is never an option.  But what about the lesser offenses?  

Sam LOVES to splash in the dog water bowl.  We keep it out in the kitchen and he's usually barricaded in his play area.  However, he is looking for more freedom and I'm inclined to give it to him when I can. If the bowl is down and I've forgotten he races over, plops down and starts splashing with GLEE.  This kid is thrilled with the water bowl.  This drives me NUTS.  He splashes water on the floor, soaks himself, and the dogs have no water.  Ultimately there is little harm involved in this activity.  More of a minor annoyance at best.  But no matter how many times we tell him "no" and redirect him, he's back at it the next time he can scheme an escape from his play area.  Obviously the simple solution is to pick up the bowl when he is out in the kitchen.  Inevitably, I forget to put it back down and the dogs go without water.  Not a good thing either.  I know this is a time of discipleship, of leading my child toward the right decision.  But it is hard work.  It is the constant, persistent, on my toes parenting that makes me weary.  It also makes me grateful for naptime and playgrounds.