At age 28 months, you are no longer a toddler. Although a few
months early, you seemed to have moved into the stage psychologist Erik Erikson
calls Early Childhood with the Development Outcome of “Autonomy vs Shame” &
the basic strengths “Self-control, courage & will…with the opportunity to build self-esteem and autonomy as you
gain more control over your body, acquire new skills, and learn right from
wrong.” Due to your wonderful parents and your school experiences you are well
on your way to “achieve autonomy and reject shame”. On Monday this week your TaTa
Nitza brought you home from an overnight at her house and I was there to meet
you for your nap time. Due to your Dad being off for “snow days” I hadn’t seen
you in over a week. When you entered the house you took charge and began
unpacking your things and putting items where they belonged. You clearly like things
to be where they belong! As I watched you “buzz around” I thought I was looking
at a much older child. Since you had awakened at 4:30 am and already had lunch
and used the potty, my goal was to get you to nap asap. You were very sweet and
after books etc. you went to sleep. Nitza had asked me to let her know when you
woke up so I gave you the phone to talk to her while you were still in your bed.
You sound so cute on the phone. Now when I’m driving you to school I can let
you take the phone and talk with your Mom without worrying about you hitting the
wrong buttons and getting frustrated; another new skill. Before your nap you
always like to hide and let me find you. You have always hidden behind the chair in
your room and squeal with delight when I find you. One day I was stunned you were
not behind the chair! I knew you had learned to open the doors inside the house
so I frantically looked in closets etc. to find you. I was beginning to panic
when you delightedly revealed you were behind the curtain in the kitchen! You spent a Saturday morning at our house playing with Maggie Rae who was spending the weekend with me & Papa Wayne. You had a great time and really played the piano & sang amazingly well! We rode
the carousel at the mall two days this month. Your favourite animal is the frog
with a “duck coming out his butt” (although I think he is sitting on the duck) but you prefer to ride other animals.
One day you were confident Nitza was working at the mall and insisted I keep trying to
find her...which we did. Maybe you have “grandmother radar”? You had a great
first day back at school post-holidays and sang songs all the way home from
school. January had some unusually cold days. One week an “Artic Vortex” and
another week an unexpected significant snow on a very cold morning which resulted
in your mom being “snowed in” at our house (where she was sleeping after working
all night) and your babysitter Debbie being “snowed in” at your house and I was
snowed in at work. But your heroic Dad made it home from Mt. Brook High School due
to having the 4-wheel-drive “Rav 4” to be with you. Your Mom made it home the
next day after the ice thawed some on our driveway and street. I picked you up at
school Friday February 7 after your Mom had taken you to school. It is always a
delight when I see your face light up when you see me after you have marched
down the hall with your teacher and classmates. The first thing you said was “get
it off” as your teacher had your coat zipped up and your back pack strapped on.
We had a good ride home as you snacked and listened to songs. We ate Newks
pizza & “raided” the fruit tray your Mom bought for Friday am “Doughnuts
with Dad” (which you are VERY excited about) and then shared your sweet pre-nap
routine...potty, hiding, books, songs, high-fives (& 4 & 3 & 2
&1 & none) and more songs. Then I listened to you sweetly chatting &
singing on the monitor until you stretched out & fell asleep. I left you
asleep after your Dad got home early because school closed due to snow
flurries. I’m scheduled to see you again Wednesday morning while your Mom
attends a meeting at UAB. That will be fun! You are definitely building self-control,
courage & will. I’m enjoying watching you successfully move through this stage
of development and look forward to many more.
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| At the Mall with Mom |
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| Saturday with cousin Maggie Rae & Frankie the dog |
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| Sharing your multiple musical talents! |
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| Nitza & Lyla...you have her good looks! |
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| After Mom made it home in the snow & ice! |
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| At La Paz with your parents |
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| Family "selfie"? |
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| Carousel at the Mall (the giraffe doesn't go up & down!) |
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| Snow at UAB Hospital where Grannie spent 2 cold nights on office floor! |
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| Driving the bus at the mall! |
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| at the dentist |
