take a deep breath

Food for thought for all the mamas, and daddies too:

Oh give me patience when wee hands, 

tug at me with their small demands. 

And give me gentle and smiling eyes. 

Keep my lips from hasty replies. 

And let not weariness, confusion, or noise,

obscure my vision of life's fleeting joys. 

So when, in years to come my house is still- 

No bitter memories it's room may fill.

All great dance moves were invented by toddlers

(FB people, go directly to the blog to see the video: http://newsfromthebirdsnest.blogspot.com/2011/06/all-great-dance-moves-were-invented-by.html)

He's a professional shusher

Wearing mama's glasses

Isaac is trying to get every last bite of yogurt from the container

We've gone through 1/2 gallon of milk in 48 hours

This is why

Shame

Shame. It's a funny thing, isn't it? Babies don't feel shame, but as adults we feel it all the time. Sometimes it just shows up as self-consciousness.

Yesterday was the first time I've seen Isaac feel self-conscious in a major way. We were at the North Market with my mom and Ken, and Isaac and I had been upstairs eating while they got their food. When my mom opened the small container of Greek food to reveal something fried that looked like a large hushpuppy, Isaac got very excited and yelled "Wow!". We were definitely not expecting that and started cracking up at how adorable it was.

The thing is, Isaac didn't think it was funny. He didn't mean for "Wow!" to be a joke---just an exclamation of joy that maybe he thought we would share. He stuck out his lower lip and began to pout. Big time. He laid his head on the table, lip quivering, and began to cry. A shoulder-shaking, silent cry...and then looked up, lip still out, tears running down his face. He tried to get out of his high chair. To run away. To hide.

Apparently this is the age when kids start to develop the ability to feel shame. Which of course is a normal part of development and not something I can stop. But can I react differently when Isaac shares his joy? Sure. I can share it with him. Show him that he may be little, but he has big opinions, and they are just as valid as anyone else's.

Nothing to be ashamed of.

Sent from my iPhone