Growing Up Fast
In all of Bennett's 3.5+ years, there have definitely been many moments that have filled me with wonder at how fast he is growing up. There's the time he started using a fork to eat. Or the time when he started using the word "actually" in a sentence. Or the time when during one of my exceptionally hormonal, stressful outbreaks of tears, he put his hand in mine and said "It'll be OK, Mom." Each of those times, I remember thinking to myself "wow, he's already doing that. How cool!"
Last night, Bennett was getting ready for bed and put on a pair of Thomas the Train pajamas. The shirt is too small for him. The sleeves are three-quarter length and his belly kind of puffs out in it, but it is warm and he likes to wear it. I normally help him put it on but he looked at me this time and said "I'LL button it." For several minutes, he attempted to get that small, little button through the hole. Every now and then I was tempted to swoop in and rescue him, but I knew better. He would just shoo me away anyway. He tried, and tried, and tried - sometimes turning to me with a big smile on his face that spoke volumes. He did not thow himself on the ground, frustrated, as I've seen him do before. He just KEPT TRYING. In the end, we did hold the hole a little wider for him so he could push the button in all by himself, and when he did - the giant grin on his face triggered this waterfall of tears on my face. I was so proud of him. For trying. Over and over and over again. I know pretty soon he will get it, without us having to hold the hole wider for him - there is no doubt in my mind.
I'm getting teary-eyed even writing this. He's really growing up so fast.
Last night, Bennett was getting ready for bed and put on a pair of Thomas the Train pajamas. The shirt is too small for him. The sleeves are three-quarter length and his belly kind of puffs out in it, but it is warm and he likes to wear it. I normally help him put it on but he looked at me this time and said "I'LL button it." For several minutes, he attempted to get that small, little button through the hole. Every now and then I was tempted to swoop in and rescue him, but I knew better. He would just shoo me away anyway. He tried, and tried, and tried - sometimes turning to me with a big smile on his face that spoke volumes. He did not thow himself on the ground, frustrated, as I've seen him do before. He just KEPT TRYING. In the end, we did hold the hole a little wider for him so he could push the button in all by himself, and when he did - the giant grin on his face triggered this waterfall of tears on my face. I was so proud of him. For trying. Over and over and over again. I know pretty soon he will get it, without us having to hold the hole wider for him - there is no doubt in my mind.
I'm getting teary-eyed even writing this. He's really growing up so fast.
Lesson #352: Dinosaurs don't live in burrows
Bennett holds a flashlight in front of dinosaur toy to make shadows a la Groundhog Day. "Look Mom, he sees his shadow!" ME: Does that mean he goes back into his burrow? BEN: C'mon Mom. Dinosaurs don't live in burrows. Groundhogs do. ME: So where do dinosaurs live? BEN: [rolls eyes] Dinosaurs live on Dinosaur ISLAND!