To achieve, you need thought. You have to know what you are doing and that's real power.
Ayn Rand
I had to laugh when I saw today's quote, because truth be told, when it comes to parenting, you'll be hard pressed to find anyone that's all hard core "YES! I know what I'm doing! I have the power!" Yet, if you look around there are plenty of happy, healthy adults running around, so their parents achieved something. Of course, there are plenty of miserable, sick individually running around as well, so I suppose their parents didn't achieve the desired result. And I don't even blame those parents, because honestly, they could have done everything right and the kid still turned out miserable.
If you've read any of this blog before, you know that I have two kids. Heck...just reading my byline will inform you of that. Given that they are so young, I don't want to really declare their personalities yet, HOWEVER, the past couple of days have given rise to the thought that Boogs is helpful, sweet, and generally a good natured kid (which is quite the opposite of how we felt only 6 months ago) while Ducks is miserable, screamy and a general bitch. Yes, I said it. I look forward to your letters. My husband recalls how Boogs was when she was little (ok...littlER...like 8 months) and how pleasant she was and fun and goofy. Now that Ducks is that age, it's like "geez, she's so miserable and screamy all the time!"
I don't think this will end up being Ducks' ultimate personality. Boogs was an overachiever from the get-go. Born 2 months early, popped teeth at 3 months, slept all night long at 4 months and in general hit a lot of her milestones not only ahead of when she should have for being a preemie, but ahead of other kids her actual age. Ducks is more of a "I'll do it when I get to it" kind of baby. She was born right on time. A week early by my estimated due date, but the pediatrician that checked her out in the hospital was like "this girl is more like 40 or 41 weeks" She's almost 8 months old...doesn't appear to be getting teeth ever. Only started sleeping all night around 6.5 months and even now about twice a week she wakes up. (Sometimes it seems like every night, but I know it isn't) Basically has hit all the milestones she should, but not really early at all. Basically just on time.
I said that to say that, in the early months, Boogs was miserable. She wanted to be held all the time, she wanted to be bounced, she wanted food when she wanted it and she wanted it now. God forbid there was a drop of pee...GET IT OFF GET IT OFF GET IT OFF. Right now, that's what we have with Ducks. That and Ducks is a lot more mommy-centric than Boogs was. I blame my boobs. Ducks uses them. Boogs didn't. So whenever I leave the room, Ducks cries. Days when I'm out of the house, she gives daddy fits. Although not always. But in general when I reappear, she gets VERY excited.
I suppose there is some amount of truth to today's quote though. In regards to parenting that is (which is all I'm addressing). You have to have knowledge of your kid. Each one differently. And when you have some knowledge of that one kid that you're handling at that particular time, you have a lot better chance of achieving that which you desire (at least in that moment). For instance, I'm about to go into the living room with a crying Ducks. I know her well enough to know, that if I want her to stop crying, basically all I have to do is pick her up. Not snuggle her, because she does NOT like snuggling. But have her sit on my knee. Or just next to me. That should achieve some quiet.
Or not...sometimes even having knowledge doesn't mean jack.
