Enjoying the Ride

Some days we just have to sit back and try to relax. Let someone else take control and steer us in a direction, within reason, that we might not have taken otherwise. Some days, it's worth learning to appreciate the slower pace or little bumps along the way and enjoy the ride.

Parenthood is about raising and celebrating the child you have, not the child you thought you would have. It's about understanding that they are exactly the person they are supposed to be. And that, if you're lucky, they just might be the teacher who turns you into the person you are supposed to be." ~The Water Giver

Lightbulb Moments

I love lightbulb moments. That "aha!" feeling for thinking of a solution to a problem or finally understanding something I've been trying to learn is simply very self-satisfying.

I love Matthew's lightbulb moments even more. They make me happy. And he has many, I've lost count. There are lightbulb moments in everything he is learning - from walking to saying words to blowing bubbles to learning colors to sight reading locking me out of the house to navigating the apps on my iPhone on his own.

I'll share a recent lightbulb moment.

A friend's 2-year old figured out how he could use a stool to help him get to things that were a little out of his reach. And I realized that I hadn't taught Matthew that yet but I bet he could do it.

So, playing with a balloon one day, the balloon landed on the kitchen counter just out of Matthew's reach. Taking him by the hand, I led him to the bathroom where we keep a little plastic step stool. Hand over hand, I showed him to pick it up and take it to where his balloon was. We put it on the floor, he got up on it and was able to get his balloon. We did it a few more times that day. He is a visual learner and a hands-on learner. And he learns better when we go through the motions rather than just talking about it.

This evening, Matthew demonstrated his understanding of that skill. I was in our bathroom with Elizabeth and Matthew.

Me: Elizabeth, let's wash your hands.

Matthew: Wash hands.

Me: Oh, you want to wash hands too? Ok. Oh, but you can't reach the water here. We need a stool.

Matthew left our bathroom. I washed Elizabeth's hands, not even thinking about where Matthew could've gone. As I was drying Elizabeth's hands, Matthew walked back into our bathroom with the plastic step stool from the other bathroom, set it on the floor by the sink and got up on it to wash his hands.

I didn't specifically tell him to get a stool. I didn't tell him where the stool was. He just processed what I said and thought, "Aha! I know where I can find a stool to use!"


Do you have a lightbulb moment to share? We'd love to hear it.

Locked Out By 3-Year Old

Add me to the list of moms who answer "YES!" to the question: Has your child ever locked you out of the house?

I told Matthew I'd be right back and went to get the mail, not closing the door all the way. It took less than a minute, especially in 30°F weather when I ran to the mailbox and ran back to the house. As I reached the front door, I heard the door close all the way, then I heard a *CLICK*!!



I tried the doorknob. I could turn it. Matthew had locked the deadbolt! He had never done this before. I never taught him that but I'm sure he's seen me lock the front door hundreds of times. I couldn't believe it! Obviously this boy has great fine motor skills.

There I was in the cold (luckily I had a jacket and scarf on), wide-eyed, heart pounding, looking in through the glass on the side of the front door. I didn't have the cordless house phone on me or my cellphone or a house key. I wanted to break down the door.

My sweet 3-year old was smiling at me through the glass and twisting the doorknob. He thought this was a game. Of course, he didn't know how to unlock the deadbolt. I could see Elizabeth was still happy in her jumperoo. I rang the doorbell and knocked on the door. That kept Matthew at the door where I could see him. The house was kid-proofed but it just made me feel better if I could see him.

Then I made a quick dash across the snow-patched lawn to our neighbor's. Thank goodness they were home! I used their phone to call my sister-in-law, who had a spare key and I knew she was out and about in our area at this time. No answer on her cellphone. Panic! I called Bill at work. He was 40 minutes away but he could make some calls for me.

I ran back to the house. Matthew was still at the door smiling at me when I knocked and rang the doorbell. Elizabeth was starting to pout in her jumperoo. Uh-oh! Maybe I can just break a window to get in??

One more call, I thought, and ran to the neighbor's and got a hold of my sister-in-law this time. She was 5 minutes away and on her way. Whew! In the meantime, I had asked our neighbor if they could try picking the garage door lock and perhaps I could get in that way. Our neighbor tried and tried but the lock wouldn't give.

Then my sister-in-law arrived. And she had a key to our house!! Whew! Quickly thanking the neighbor, I rushed to the front door with my rescuer. With one turn of the key in the lock, we were in!!! Thank you, thank you, thank you, Kris!!

I hugged Matthew tight. Elizabeth had just started crying so I got her out of her jumperoo and hugged her tight too.

This scary experience probably took 5 years off my life in the 15 minutes that I was locked out of the house.

Moral of the story:
Always be prepared and have a back-up plan that does not involve relying on other people or breaking down the door or breaking a window.

What if Kris wasn't nearby? What if my next-door neighbors weren't home? What if...

The plan of action:
- Have a house key on me at all times, especially when stepping outside for just a minute to grab the mail. I'm going to get a wrist or arm wallet so I can wear my house key all day.
- Hide a house key somewhere outside.
- Take along a cellphone or the cordless house phone.

Never again!