Edgy Mama

My plan for engaging in extra reading time over this holiday break has been thwarted by two things: my inability to meet all of my work deadlines before the break, and my volunteering to care for my youngest sister’s youngest child for three days.

Robert, aged 21 months, is an adorable kid–flexible, laid back, sweet, a bit of a ham. He also didn’t sleep a whole lot last night because of both a cough and because he’s 21 months and we made him sleep in a pack & play in a strange place. Poor guy. So, of course, he ended up in our bed for most of the night. I’d forgotten what toddler-induced sleep deprivation feels like. It feels like I’ve got sand rubbing against the back of my corneas, and I’m not sure if I should be operating any large machinery for a couple of days.

Also, Robert is in that curious toddler stage where everything must be explored–including the toilet, my printer, the kitchen drawers, and all other potentially dangerous non-baby proofed areas of my home. So far, the damage has been minimal, although he’s discovered that anything he throws will be retrieved by the dog, which he finds hilarious. So things like my kids’ toys, his bottle, and the sofa pillows have been frequently flying through the air. Even the dog is sleep-deprived.

But Robert is the sweetest, funniest, most relaxed little kid ever. He loves to snuggle, lets anyone comfort him, including my 6-year-old son, and sings tuneful babbling songs all day. He’s a bit scared of Rocky, but Rocky weighs as much as he does, so that’s understandable. When Robert first saw the sumo cat, he started crying, pointing, and yelling, “No, no, no.” I realized that he thought I’d allowed a bobcat in the house.

For the first time in three years, I have a baby gate on the stairs, a high chair in the dining room, and a pile of diapers in the bedroom. But guess what? I get to give him back in two days. I think this may be the best gift my sister’s ever given me.