For the past couple of weeks, E has been a handful, but a good handful. It seems the whiny, always need you to be with me, right next to me, all of the time E has gone for a slightly more independent, happier E.
Today on the phone with A, “Do you think E is getting to be fussy again?”
My internal response, oh s*^t.
I hope not. I was hoping to be able to put fussy, high needs E behind us (well, for the most part…he does still have his daily moments). We’ll see what the future holds.
I recently read an article online that said babies who were fussy as infants are more likely to lie, cheat, steal and bully. Grrrrreeeeeeeaaaaaaatttttt. Honestly, I don’t believe it for one bit. I have no idea the population interviewed, the quantity, all of that data that is of utmost importance in determining the actual reality of said issue.
When I look back to E’s fussiness, it seems that yes, he was a fussy baby. But he was fussy most of the time for reasons that were noted. He wasn’t eating enough when he was nursing, which he fussed about. Then it came time for his teeth to come in. Now I attribute his fussiness to lack of being able to move on his own. Sure, he’s been a fussy, high need baby. But do I think for a second that he will turn out like that ’study’ suggested. Not a chance.
The study also brought up babies who were interacted with and who went out of the house were more likely to be ‘better’ than said fussy ones. What if I fall into both categories? I am constantly talking to E, telling him about things. We also make it a point to get out of the house at least once a day to go do something. Go somewhere new, meet up with A for lunch.
But what bothers me most about this study is the people who will believe it. Raising a child (and teaching for that matter) is all about expectations. If you have low expectations for a child, that child may not want to even try to go above what you would expect. But expect the world and they can give it to you.
or in our case, sprint off!
Today we had plans to go visit A for lunch, which we try to do weekly. Well, instead of driving in, I thought it may be a fun adventure to take the bus in. Save a little on the pollution, try something new out with E. Um…never again (well, not in the next month at least).
The ride to A’s work was ok. E was patient while waiting (we maybe waited 10 minutes) and once on the bus, so long as he was standing up or in my lap, he was very content. Most of the trip in was spent with his head on my shoulder, which I won’t lie, I LOVED.
We got to A’s work, E was fussy whenever he was in his stroller. A suggested that it may be teething-good thinking on his part as E has been pretty fussy for no apparent reason today and a bit yesterday. I didn’t even consider teething. While having his lunch, while walking to the bus stop, while waiting for the bus to go home, E was fussy. This does not bode well for the return trip home.
We got on the bus and E was ok for a bit. He started writhing and crying and so I thought I may as well give him his bottle since at least that would settle him down. I put E down on the seat next to me (we had stopped to let people on, and there were many people) and started to pour the water into the sippy cup. Then the bus started. I couldn’t keep in sitting next to me, he’d fall. I tried holding E and pouring water in, but ended up pouring it all over myself. People around me were simply watching, not offering to help (seriously, what is wrong with this world-you see a screaming baby and a mother attempting to make a bottle and you just think it’s some sort of entertainment). Finally a nice woman sitting next to me offered to help. She finished off making the bottle and there was E, happy again.
Currently E is screaming in his crib, resisting sleep. What a day, what a day.
At least I can say we tried it out…
