The Top 10 Reasons I Bid Toddlerhood Farewell

My son Dutch is two and a half. Let me reiterate the “and a half” part. He has matured so much over the last half year. This summer has really opened up new opportunities for our family with him being just a little bit older, and I am so excited about it!

My husband Gary and I have decided that Dutch is our last baby. It does tear at me a little bit that his last layer of baby fat will soon melt away, and he’ll be saying his sister’s name “Ella” instead of “Ewa.” So I’m soaking up every moment of the here and now, but I’m also looking forward to what is to come.

I feel like our family is really hitting its stride with him getting a little older. We can finally do things all together without leaving Dutch at home with a babysitter or the other parent. And I absolutely love that. Because lets just face it, there are certain things that you just cannot do with an infant or toddler. It also frees me up a little bit to enjoy some time to myself. Ahhh…

So here is my footloose and fancy-free list of Top 10 Reasons I Bid Toddlerhood Farewell, in no particular order:

1. Our family can go to the movies together. I know this may seem like a little thing, but those of you who have one-year-olds will understand. This weekend I brought both kids to see Madagascar 3 at the theater by myself. Six months ago I would not have attempted this. A year ago, something crazy came over me and I did attempt it. And let me just say that it was not good. My 18-month-old had a meltdown and ran wild. This weekend, before we left to go to the theater, Ella even recalled the experience said, “Are you sure we shouldn’t leave Dutch at home? Remember what happened last time?” I explained to her that he is a little older now, and I had my game plan ready with fruit snacks in my purse in case of emergency. We skipped the previews and arrived right as the movie was beginning. So what was the verdict, you might be asking? Dutch did wonderful! He sat through the entire movie and was in no hurry to leave, still focused on the credits. And we didn’t even need the fruit snacks!

2. I can sit in a chair at the pool. I can’t tell you how liberating and relaxing this feels. We are members at a local pool club. Last summer, Dutch cried when I tried to put floaties on him. We struggled with that all summer. Most times I had to hold him or sit on the steps with him the entire time we were in the water. This summer he was eager to put on his floaties, and he’s learning to kick his legs and get around in the water by himself. I still get in the water and play, but I also have a few stretches of time, in between breaking up water fights and albeit they are short, where I can sit and work on my tan. :)

3. Our family can go fishing together. My husband Gary has a boat. I had been chomping at the bit this winter, ready to take Dutch out in it for the first time once warmer weather hit. Because I knew how much he would love it. He’s adopted his daddy’s love for the outdoors. I wouldn’t dare have tried last year, though. There’s no way he would have happily worn a life jacket a year ago. Since spring arrived, we’ve been out on the water twice, and he loved it, mostly playing with our fishing bait, the worms.

4. I can sleep in just a little bit later. I feel like the heavens should open up and a choir of angels should sing “Halleluiah” on this one. Now, I have to be at work five days a week at 8 a.m., and we have church on Sundays, so that really only leaves one day where I can take my time getting out of bed. So I cherish my Saturdays. (In my hay day, I could sleep in like you wouldn’t believe.) My kids are usually up by about 7:30, but now that Dutch is getting older, they have gotten into this habit of going into his room and having a good old time for at least another 30 minutes to an hour. So I get to catch a few more Z’s until they come begging for breakfast.

5. We can make it through church without having to leave. Now don’t quote me on this one, because two-year-olds are pretty unpredictable. So you could very well see me this coming Sunday making my way down the aisle with a screaming child. But it’s getting better. The times when I have to take my child out of the auditorium are becoming fewer and farther between. It used to be a constant struggle and shuffle to make it 45 minutes until the preacher said the magic words, “The children are now released to King’s Playground.” Last Sunday my husband Gary wasn’t able to make it to church, so I was there by myself with the two kids. I expected the worst, but am proud to say that they behaved like perfect angels. I didn’t have to get up once.

6. To watch my almost preschooler pray is heavenly. Dutch is definitely a talker. As he gets older, his vocabulary is growing leaps and bounds. So when we ask, “Who wants to pray?” at the dinner table, his immediate response is “Me!” And I have to say that it is the cutest thing I have ever seen. First he squints his eyes closed really tight and begins in a whisper that is almost inaudible. He says, “Tank you, God. Tank you, food. Tank you…” and then a resounding “Amen!” Sometimes he is even eating as he is praying. To hear him pray is entertaining to say the least, but it also reminds me of his budding awareness of and relationship with God. So I just eat it up. And to hear him say “I wuv you,” it’s divine.

7. I can leave the house without a suitcase full of stuff. This is big. It’ll be even bigger once Dutch is completely potty trained. I no longer need a huge diaper bag full of bottles, changes of clothes and the like. Most times I carry a small backpack with a change of clothes, some pull-ups and wipes. I don’t have to worry about packing sippy cups, because now he can drink out of a regular cup. Sometimes I just stuff an extra pull-up in my purse and go. It’s definitely getting a lot easier in that regard.

8. Our family can go bowling together. A couple of weeks ago our family was invited to a bowling birthday party. Our kids loved it. Ella had been a couple of times before, but it was Dutch’s first time. Of course, there were bumpers. And both kids especially loved the ramp made for kids to aim and roll the ball down. If you haven’t seen one, it’s really pretty cool. So bowling is now one more activity that each of our family members can equally enjoy together. I’m looking forward to adding bike riding to that list!

9. I can take a bath uninterrupted. Can I get an "Amen?" Now that Dutch is becoming more independent, he doesn’t have to be at my side 24-7. He used to stand by the tub and throw things in while I hurried to get out. Or he’d dig in the bathroom drawers, pulling out toothpaste, deodorant and lotion. It was a race to wash my hair before he could do too much damage. Now I can usually get him involved in some activity outside the bathroom while I sit and soak for a few.

10. My kids are really starting to play together. Ella is finally starting to see Dutch as somewhat of an equal, rather than just a baby. Now that he is more on her level, they have really begun to hit it off. It warms my heart to see their love for one another. Now don’t get me wrong; they still fight, and I don’t think she’ll ever be fond of him going in her room. But for them to have each other as built-in playmates is a really good thing. It gives mama a chance to finish cooking dinner.

I hope you enjoyed my Top 10 list! And if you are still in the baby/early toddler years or are expecting a baby, I hope you enjoy every minute of your life stage. This is just a snapshot of where I am in life and what you have to look forward to! - Erica