My six month old daughter reminds me that the world is our playground.
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With our second child I’m re-experiencing the wonder I felt at how biologically gregarious we are.
Our baby girl E’s comfort and pleasures revolve around our presence, particularly that of our toddler brother.
Control and Comfort
Ritualistic behavior like you are now witnessing, is your toddler’s way of maintaining control while asserting his new found independence in a safe and worry-free manner. When your little one is faced with some type of change in his routine, he feels vulnerable, anxious and frustrated, so having control of even the smallest areas of his life right now means more than you’ll ever know. Being denied the fulfillment experienced through rituals can do a number on your little one’s self-esteem, so remember that what you may see as monotonous, your toddler sees as peace-of-mind, and who’s to argue with a content toddler? Certainly not me.
Shelley Feldman, “Your 22-month-old toddler (week 93)“, edHelperBaby
The above makes sense, what we suspected, and seems to be the consistent explanation.
“My do it”, regularly insists my toddler son.
The examples of this that stands out to me all relate to eating:
- He insists on putting the cap back on his milk bottle, so he can remove it himself, before he’ll consider drinking it.
- Food that he doesn’t want can’t stay on his plate. He puts it on my plate.
- If his fruit filled cereal bar breaks in two then he earnestly tries to put it back together, and ends up rejecting it in frustration.
Being part of my toddler’s world, witnessing what is instinctual and being part of his learning, gives me incredibly enjoyable and insights.
I feel that being a parent is already making me a better person. My son really is my greatest teacher.
Brace Face
With the launch of Gravatar Profiles (mine!), I’ve updated my avatar to a photo Sheri took of me using Matt’s gear at WordCamp SF, May 1st.
I’ve been braced since the beginning of February, and will continue to be for the next two years.
Bad is Strong
Bad is stronger than good. It is more important to eliminate the negative than to accentuate the positive.
Robert I. Sutton, “12 Things Good Bosses Believe“, Friday, May 28, 2010
There are interesting discussions in the comments on that article where people express finding the expression negative, and their need to focus on the good.
My interpretation of the expression is that it speaks to the power of bad to overwhelm good.
I can’t enjoy the good with bad present.
For myself, negative energy causes me to stumble. It drains me. And then I also become a conduit of the negative energy.
For me to reach higher I need to be surrounded by people feeling it, and supporting it.
Only in a positive, empathic environment, am I able to be my best.
"In Flames - Koh Tao june 2008" by Bart Hiddink, cc-by 2008
Each Season
I had an amazing time snowboarding yesterday up at Mt Washington with my father-in-law, B.
It was a last minute trip made possibly by our flexible schedules.
The conditions were incredible. A light layer of fresh snow on a solid base. Not windy. Sun poking through for much of the day. I’m told it was more winter skiing than spring.
There were no line ups. B made the point that people are already well into their spring thinking, and have left the mountains behind. The awesome sunny days we have had contributes too.
It was great to see so many elders skiing. You aren’t old, if you’re active.
It’s been many years since I last boarded, and I barely shook off the rust yesterday. Thankfully, my legs are not feeling too sore today.
It made me think of other favorite activities I’ve left behind, and how important for mind, body, and relationships, it is to do the activities each season. Of course, it also made me think of all the many new fantastic activities I now share with my family.
Old Toy Trains and New Memories
I”m really feeling the spirit this season. Nothing lightens my mood lately like hearing someone offering a “Merry Christmas”.
At my in-laws’ place on the weekend, they put on Nana Mouskouri’s “Petit Garçon”, and lamented not having the English version “Old Toy Trains”, which they grow up listening to it at Christmas time on a reel-to-reel.
Here are lower quality recorders of both songs.
Nana is a singer who has recorded about 1,500 songs in 15 languages on 450 albums in a career spanning over five decades, making her one of the best-selling artists and highest selling female artist of all time. Incredible!
Nana Mouskouri’s singing feels familiar, but I can’t recall her being part of my family’s traditions growing up.
It took me a while to find the album with “Old Toy Train” on it. It’s “Christmas with Nana Mouskouri [IMPORT]
These songs are really enchanting. When I hear “old toy trains”, I think of new, but olden style wooden toy trains.
My wife’s mom recently got a used Brio train set for our 19 month old son. He is really enjoying it and continues to say “train” in excitement in his over pronounced way.
My co-worker Ryan, with two young boys of his own, shares in “Kid Gear”
Laying down wooden tracks and pushing wooden trains is favored over all of the electronic gizmos we’ve bought them.
Wooden trains bring back some of my oldest, fondest memories.
An Earth Day 2008, April 22
Today, Wednesday, April 22nd is an Earth day. (The United Nations celebrates Earth day later in the year on the March equinox).
The weather has been gorgeous these last few days. Although, bike to work week isn’t till May 11–17, it’s awesome to see so many people biking to work. I do chuckle a little at the awkward commuter cyclist in their business attire and inappropriate shoes, but good on ‘em!
Now, when I think of Earth Day, I think of my son, and my son’s future children. I get an anxious energy to do my part for Earth every day.
I regularly think of child Canadian Severn Cullis-Suzuki in 1992 addressing the UN Earth Summit 1992:
“If you don’t know how to fix it, please stop breaking it. … You grownups say you love us, but I challenge you, please, make your actions reflect your words”
I Wonder If I’m Growing
In celebration of my son’s recent birthday and also my and my wife’s own personal growth, here is Raffi and Ken Whiteley’s “I Wonder If I’m Growing”
Canadian Moose Spotted in Beijing
For years when people ask if I have any siblings, I’ve said, “Yes, I have a brother. He looks like me, but is a taller, strong version. A real Canadian Moose.” And I’d raise my shoulders and pretend to flex.
My brother living in Beijing was described in a Metro News article as “[sporting] a tall frame and sandy brown hair.” The article quotes his advice of tolerance:
“People yelling “hello” at you, asking to take their picture with you, staring, or commenting on the sharpness of your nose — they don’t mean any harm by it,” he said good naturedly.