I took Ava to our libraries Babies and Books storytime today. We haven't been in a while and I noticed something. As I was looking around and watching the other babies (8-23 mos) and their parents, I saw that most of the kids were sitting with their parents listening and participating or at least just sitting there or standing beside their parent.
Then, I looked and saw my child standing in the middle of the circle, walking and running around the room a little, climbing up on chairs, playing with the other children's strollers, etc.
What's wrong with this picture?
A few of my thoughts/rationalizations:
1. my daughter is probably one of the only 14 month olds that can run and climb and others would be doing it too
2. I shouldn't feel so bad because they say it is okay for the kids to wander around and there were a few wandering around and she really wasn't being noisy
3. my child disregards my "no's" or my "come here's"
4. I'm worrying too much
5. my child has a short attention span (ADD! Oh, no! ;)
6. my child is just really outgoing
7. my child is just smart and knows what she wants
8. this is my way to learn that I don't have 100% control - not even close
Okay, I've gone on way too long about this. I'm not taking it as hard as it sounds - but I sure did notice this and it did get me thinking about my parenting skills and tactics. Something tells me this is just the beginning of these kinds of feelings!
Melisa Osmond: Finding the Power in You
4 years ago
6 comments:
Lori--
All of the things you listed are exactly why you are at the library in the first place. You are doing exactly what you need to be doing--exposing Ava to new situations where there are lots of things to learn! Kids definitely aren't born with an attention span, but if you take her to places like storytime etc. she'll learn so many new things and she'll get practice at sitting in your lap, even if it's only for a few seconds at first!! Keep going, and by the time she's in primary she'll be one of the sunbeams who actually SITS for a while during sharing time!! What a cutie! It's fun to have so many new things to do now that's she's growing up!
She's supersmart. Clearly. I realized that about my boys long ago when they spend all of sacrament meeting trying to run to the microphone at the front.
Geniuses, I tell you! Clearly, Ava is in that category.
Ava sounds completely normal to me. A 14-month-old is supposed to wander around and get into stuff. I'm sure the librarians understand this too. Good job taking her to the library. I wouldn't worry about a little toddler distractedness.
Mary was the same way she liked to get up and run around on the stage, behind the lady reading! Now she sits and listens to all of the books. Ava is just showing everyone how cute she is, everyone can see her better in the middle of the circle!
Thanks for the comments! I'm feeling better.
The rest of the kids MUST be mal-nourished! (words of comfort I whisper to myself when mine are the only ones running wild!)
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