Life with a 2.5 Year Old

Once upon a time, the fact that my family room looks like this would have horrified me. What would have devastated me is the fact that I could leave it like that, go to bed, and sleep soundly.

Having a baby sure has changed me in ways I never expected. I've thought this over and over since he was born. Every few months, as our house was slowly been rearranged and redecorated thanks to the growing reach and curiosity of Gavin, I have looked around and thought about how I never imagined having a baby would bring out this much change. Or at least not this kind of change.

But it has, and I've adapted, lest said reach and curiosity drive me to insanity. Someday, perhaps my house will be decorated with pretty objects housed lower than six feet (must be that high when climb-on-able objects are nearby). Until then, I will practice a minimalist approach to home decorating. Honestly, it doesn't bother me that much.

Most of the time, it doesn't bother me. I have to say there are days when, after spending all day picking up after the wee tornado, there is no noticeable improvement to the condition of the house, I feel caught in a hopeless loop. But then there are the other moments that go with it, which keep me plugging away.

Like the sweet voice that asks me to "play deens [trains] with me, Mommy!" Or the silly boy who puts on my shoes and clomps around the kitchen and says (in a funny voice that I suppose is mimicing me), "Look at me, I'm Mommy." Or when he notices the vitamin bottle on the kitchen counter and shrieks happily that "We forgot our vitamins today!" And when we actually have forgotten our vitamins (which is the case only about 9/10 times... he loves vitamin time) he wants to feed me my vitamins, so climbs on a chair and puts them into my mouth one by one.

Or the moments of pure joy. The other afternoon we were outside and he noticed a branch of a tree where all the leaves had changed to yellow. It made him so happy, laugh so hard. Leaves turning yellow... commonplace, yet to him, completely not normal and thoroughly worthy of laughter and joy. Joy in the little, everyday things.... things that ought still give us joy but don't. Being reminded of that on a daily basis is payment enough for the constant clutter and getting-nowhere-ness of life with a small child.

Now I'm off to bed. And in case you're wondering, yes, the family room still looks exactly like that. And so it shall stay. Until tomorrow. Or maybe the next day.
Posted by allison at September 22, 2006 12:31 AM