Toddler Tales : Individuality and Obsessions
Toddlers are very independent little beings.. for only being a few feet tall. I think what is so special about them is their individuality and spirit they have for.. well everything they come across.
This “obsession” my son has now with pots, spoons and other various cook wear is caught between helpful and, well I’m not sure what, but he just loves them and there is nothing I can do about it. My son waddles his way over to my cabinets, selects the largest pot, and opens our silverware drawer and selects a few spoons to carry around. From there on out, that is all there is too it. At my moms house its the gravy boat, the china cabinet which houses his favorite tiny mickey mouse dishes and the Tupperware cabinet that tickle his fancy. A friend of mines’ son is a procurer of plastic baggies. No matter where you hide them, or lock them up. They will be found, as if they were on some baby radar.
These little obsessions, is what makes them who they are as a tiny human. Things I’m never going to forget about. Sundays are for cleaning, I open my closet and my son is by my side, reaching for the broom, and the swifter. I am lucky that my son even wants to help me. We have taught him what the trash is, and to wipe up his mess. What he doesn't understand is that dog water isn't appropriate cleaning material for the broom, or that the swifter isn't for the carpet. So I’m not sure if his “helping” is really as helpful as I would like it to be. Those are just some of the practical obsessions my son, and a few other kids have. My son enjoys throwing all the pool toys surrounding the pool in. He likes to squeeze juice boxes on my moms cat, and we all know the kid who likes to pee on things and/or the day care booger picker.
What makes my son who he is, is all these crazy bits of pieces of what he loves to do. That he likes to dance in a circle, and isn’t a big fan of playing with trucks. He likes to eat mini muffins, as well as share them with the dogs. So what, your kid likes to eat spaghetti naked? It is probably invigorating, and I’m envious as an adult I can’t get away with that. That’s the beauty of it and what makes an individual who they are. I’m willing to bet the more “out there” they seem, the more imaginative they will become. At this time they have over 700 synapses being connected in their brain a second. There is a lot going on in that little mind!
Where the barrier comes in as a parent is knowing when to set the boundaries, and when to be respectful of who they are. I’m going to let my son eat spaghetti naked at home, but when he tries to take his shirt off in public, I’m going to draw the line. I liked to call my Christopher Robins. They could make an imaginative scene to play anywhere we were, and were large advocates for rain boots, no matter the weather. Their imagination helped us at family dinners, it kept them from running and playing under the table, my mom would pack a backpack for when we would go out, and they would sit and play with their cars or trains. All the while letting them wear rain boots in the middle July during a heat wave. Its who they were. It was embraced and too this day they are as imaginative as ever, but with appropriate footwear. A coworker of mines daughter, is very strong when it comes to her outfit choices. She loves leggings, and is very particular about them. As much as my coworker tries to set out her outfits, the girl just wants to dress herself. No matter what anyone might think about it. Strong willed girls who demand to dress themselves the way they want are going to be CEO’s one day. My younger sister when she was a toddler was very headstrong, and marched to the beat of her own drum. As a young adult, shes still headstrong, but one of the most creative beings I know.
So when it comes to individuality, and obsessions. Its just a little insight into what is coming in the years to come. As parents its our job to support these things, and well, cross our fingers and hope for the best! Its nothing but exciting from here on out, and hope that my sons dog food obsession leads to some sort of culinary interest in the future.
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