I have two perfectly healthy and typical little girls. They were born right on time, big beautiful girls who did everything on time if not early…they said their first words at 6 months and had sentences by 1. They both started walking the week of their first birthdays. They made everything seem so easy. I fell madly in love with each of them the second they were born. The overwhelming feelings of love and attachment to them came in an instant. We were bonded in a second and they wanted me and only me for a long time. Then, out of nowhere they became independent, crazy little girls who were on the move and needed me less and less. And as they needed me less, our relationship changed. And…this is exactly how it’s supposed to be. Rather than relying on me, they chose to want me to help only when they really needed it.
Then, I had baby #3. This sweetie came a little early, gave us quite a scare & has taken her sweet time in doing everything. And…this is not ideal…definitely not preferable. The poor girl has struggled with every last milestone and it can be excruciating to watch BUT….this has come with an unexpected and beautiful side effect. This extra gift that we got with her is the crazy close bond that you have with a newborn….the feeling of just smelling them in and the 100% reliance they have on you. The big girls traded me in for adventures when they could run all over the place but at almost two years, she still needs me for most things and therefore, I still feel the need to be super close to her. Basically, I get to have those sweet baby months stretched out and I do love it as much as… I don’t. She has this effect on everyone else too…people still love her like they love a new baby, but she isn’t a baby. She is actually a big girl!! And she just keeps on growing and she can do lots more than she can’t at the moment. She’s a tough cookie, a good girl and she loves her mama. If I get to soak up this need me stage of attachment for another year or two or ten, I’ll take it!
Her newest tricks for those who like to keep up with her…are clapping and “rolling them up” for patty cake. She’s using a straw. She’s emptying our kitchen cabinets. She’s becoming even more rotten and I didn’t know that was possible. 🙂
